LVAD - Provider Credentialing Simulation Course (Providers ONLY)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 9:00 AM - Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 10:30 AM, Washington, DC MedStar Simulation Center, Washington, DC


This MedStar Health simulation course was created as a means for providers to demonstrate competency in caring for an left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patient. This simulation focuses on accurate clinical decision-making in order to facilitate appropriate actions when treating common cardiovascular & hemodynamic complications of critical care LVAD patients. The simulation also emphasizes recognizing when it is necessary to escalate care and the use of effective communication techniques to do so. The course is meant to be part of a MedStar Health LVAD credentialing curriculum, as well as a means to meet the training requirements set forth by The Joint Commission and ACGME.

1. Identify signs, symptoms, and LVAD device findings that indicate a stable or unstable patient.
2. Perform an appropriate, focused physical exam and identify pertinent positives and negatives of the LVAD-focused physical exam.
3. Select the appropriate diagnostic tests to evaluate an unstable LVAD patient and correctly interpret the diagnostic test results.
4. Create a systematic, focused list of differential diagnoses and the appropriate interventions for a deteriorating LVAD patient utilizing VAD parameters.
5. Decide appropriately when and how to escalate care and/or activate the Rapid Response Team.
6. Identify the roles and responsibilities of members of the healthcare team involved in the collaborative care of LVAD patients.
7. Integrate a team-based approach in the care of LVAD patients.

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by MedStar Health. MedStar Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Physician (1.50 hours), IPCE (1.50 hours), Non-Physician Member of the Healthcare Team (1.50 hours), Nurse - ANCC (1.50 hours), Physician Assistant - AAPA (1.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

MedStar Health adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

Individuals in a position to control the content of this CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

No faculty are available for this activity at this time.