October 27, 2016

VAD Monitoring

High Readmission Rates

Male and female doctors smiling at the cameraLeft ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has been shown to improve survival, hemodynamic status, and end-organ perfusion in patients with advanced heart failure. More than 80% of implanted individuals survive to hospital discharge without undergoing heart transplant; however, risk of hospital readmission remains high, particularly early readmission (1,2).

A 2014 longitudinal study reported that 73.4% of patients were rehospitalized after implant, with a median length of stay (LOS) of 10.5 days (2). Another recent study found that more than 75% of all patients were readmitted to the hospital within 90 days of implant, and each patient had an average of 2.9 readmissions within the first year of implant (3). The mean annual cost associated with these rehospitalizations was approximately $25,000 per patient, with several patients incurring well over $50,000 in annual costs (3).

Avoidable Complications

Several studies of post-implant hospital utilization have shown that the majority of readmissions occur for preventable reasons, such as device complications, heart failure events, gastrointestinal bleeds, thrombosis, and pump-related infections (3,4). Targeting patients who are at risk for readmission and providing them with more sustained care coordination, supported by robust education, could significantly reduce rehospitalization incidence.

Preventing Readmissions

Male patient reading a digital tabletWe have developed the world’s most comprehensive health monitoring system for VAD, designed to:

  • Provide earlier warnings of infection, device complications, thrombosis, and other issues that could lead to rehospitalization
  • Improve patient engagement, adherence to discharge protocols, satisfaction levels and, ultimately, health outcomes
  • Enable VAD units to optimize profitability through improved post-discharge patient care that minimizes post-implant length of stay, avoidable readmission days and operational burden

We staff a team of support professionals to monitor patient vital signs and symptoms and help you achieve your program objectives. Our principal aim is to work with you to implement a monitoring program that will help you optimize outcomes for your patients and maximize clinical, financial and operational results for your organization. To learn more about our solution or connect with an ActiCare Health sales representative, click here.

To learn more about how remote patient monitoring can help you achieve your profitability goals, click here.


Citations
(1) Hernandez et al. Present-Day Hospital Readmissions after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: A Large Single-Center Study. Tex Heart Inst J. 2015 Oct; 42(5): 419–429.

(2) Dunley MS et al. Abstract 208: Hospital Readmissions After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
2014; 7: A208.

(3) Williams CT et al. Analysis of Cost for Readmissions after Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation – A Single Center Experience. JACC. Mar 27, 2012; 59:13.

(4) Akhter SA et al. Hospital Readmissions After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Incidence, Causes, and Cost Analysis. Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Sep;100(3):884-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.03.010. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

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