Infirmary LVAD Program

A message from Roger Swayze, director of Cardiovascular Services and Research: CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute has earned certification from The Joint Commission for its left ventricular assist device (LVAD) program, which offers a technological approach to treating advanced heart failure.

To achieve this certification, our LVAD team underwent a rigorous two-day review for compliance with The Joint Commission’s disease-specific standards for clinical practice and performance.

Our team consists of Dr. Thurston Bauer, cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical director, Advanced Heart Failure & Mechanical Circulatory Support;  Dr. Muhammad Waqas, cardiologist and director, Advanced Heart Failure; Roger Swayze, LVAD Program director & director, Cardiovascular Services; Blake Towell, LVAD coordinator; and Barbara Hobby, CVICU nurse educator.

This recognition showcases a new milestone for our Heart Institute as a “Center of Excellence.” The achievement shows how CHI St. Vincent continues to ensure all patients in our community are provided complete, compassionate, state-of-the-art cardiovascular care. This accomplishment indicates the high level of commitment our Institute has for offering advanced therapies for improving the lives of patients living with heart failure in our great state.

I would like to thank all the nursing staff, the  LVAD Team, composed of multiple disciplines, and everyone in the organization for the support that was given during the survey.