INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation provides care for LVAD patients. Therapists are trained to assist in increasing patients’ independence.
The ventricular assist device is an electric heart assist device designed to pump blood to the body in patients with a failing left ventricle. VADs have several uses including bridge to transplantation and bridge to recovery, and can serve as a permanent therapy for end-stage heart failure. In the United States, there are nearly 4,000 people on the heart transplant waiting list. Only about 2,000 hearts become available per year. The LVAD can be used to “bridge” these patients to transplant when waiting is no longer possible. Once in a while, a patient’s heart will recover enough that the device can be removed permanently.
INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation provides therapies to assist in the recovery process. These include the following.
INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe has a quarterly support group to assist in bridging the gap between the hospital and home. The group provides continued support and new technology updates. The group is open to current and former patients; family members are also welcome. For additional information, please call 405-949-3253.
Please come and help us maintain a strong community support group. We would love to have you join us.
