Stony Brook Ventricular Assist Device Program Earns National Accreditation From the Joint Commission

Medical Center & Health Care

Stony Brook Ventricular Assist Device Program Earns National Accreditation From the Joint Commission
First and only program on Long Island to achieve accreditation after rigorous two-day review

STONY BROOK, N.Y., March 7, 2011 – The Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program in the Heart Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center is not only the only VAD program on Long Island, it is also now the first VAD program on Long Island to receive national accreditation from The Joint Commission after an intensive two-day review by a team of Joint Commission surveyors. The inspection of the VAD program occurred Feb. 28 and March 1. The program's "certification of distinction" is for a two-year period, with a performance review at the end of the first year. "Accreditation is a seal of approval that signals to our patients that they are in a quality program and are in capable hands when they come to Stony Brook," said Todd K. Rosengart, MD, Co-Chair of the Heart Center, and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery for the Stony Brook University School of Medicine.   "This is an outstanding achievement reflecting on a total team commitment to providing quality care to patients requiring ventricular assist devices as 'destination therapy,'" said Margaret Duffy, MS, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Director of Nursing for Cardiac Services at Stony Brook University Hospital.   Destination therapy refers to VAD as the final treatment option for select patients whose hearts require mechanical assistance to pump blood. Once used as a temporary device for heart failure patients awaiting transplants, VAD now helps more patients extend and improve their quality of life.   To achieve accreditation, VAD programs are evaluated on standards in The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Certification Manual. Programs must demonstrate conformity with clinical practice guidelines or evidence-based practices. They are also required to collect and analyze data on ...

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