New ISHLT Document on Engaging Social Support Systems in Patients Being Considered for and Following Advanced Heart and Lung Surgical Therapies
A new ISHLT Document, Engagement of Social Support Systems in Patients Being Considered for and Following Advanced Heart and Lung Surgical Therapies: An ISHLT Expert Consensus Statement, has been published in JHLT and is available to read online!
Led by Colleen McIlvennan, Samantah Anthony, Fabienne Dobbels, Cassie Kennedy, Michael Petty, and Melissa Sanchez, this document was developed to address ongoing challenges faced by programs on how to assess, engage, and caregivers and support social support networks across the continuum of care, despite the central role of these networks in transplantation and LVAD care.
To address these challenges, a multidisciplinary group of international experts convened to develop this consensus statement which 1) summarizes the current evidence and clinical practices related to social support systems, including caregiver roles, for adult and pediatric patients undergoing evaluation, treatment, and recovery from advanced heart and lung surgical therapies, and 2) provides consensus-based recommendations to guide programs in systematically assessing social support, engaging caregivers, and implementing strategies to support both patients and caregivers to optimize adherence, recovery, and long-term outcomes following transplantation or LVAD implantation.
Visit the Standards & Guidelines page for details, top takeaways, and links to read or download the document.