Implementation of an Evidence-Based LVAD Patient and Family Advisory Council
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Introduction: A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) program was not receiving sufficient patient feedback from satisfaction surveys to enable leaders to improve the quality of the program and to meet the regulatory standard set forth by The Joint Commission to utilize patient satisfaction data for performance improvement activities.
Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement initiative was to implement an LVAD Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) in a large urban academic Midwestern medical center to obtain meaningful patient satisfaction feedback.
Methods: LVAD patients and their support persons participated in one of three monthly PFAC sessions to share their experiences within the healthcare system, with a facilitated discussion soliciting feedback on potential areas for improvement. Audio recordings of the meetings were converted to written transcripts. Patient/family comments were separated into two categories, potentially actionable or not actionable, based on whether they contained information that could inform improvement initiatives. The potentially actionable comments were then categorized into themes.
Outcomes: Three PFAC sessions hosted 42 percent of the LVAD population, with 25 patients and 17 support persons in attendance. There were 266 comments received pertaining to the LVAD program and care, and 78 were potentially actionable with four themes: education, support, healthcare system gaps, and communication. From these comment themes, four improvement initiatives were identified for the program.
Conclusions: Implementing a PFAC for an LVAD patient population is one model to increase patient engagement. This inaugural LVAD PFAC was successful in soliciting meaningful feedback to make programmatic improvements.
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Keywords
patient and family advisory council, PFAC, left ventricular assist device, LVAD, patient satisfaction, quality improvement