VAD Patients: EMS Response (v2)

Course overview

As Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) become more prevalent throughout the U.S. EMS providers of all levels can benefit from reviewing how to assess, treat, and transport a patient with a VAD. This course reviews why a person would need a VAD and how the device works, common malfunctions and other complications that can affect the VADs performance, what EMS providers can do to restore a VADs effectiveness in moving blood through the heart, and how to assess a VAD patient while using caution to protect the device components.