10 Years of the Gill Affiliate Network: Norton Heart & Vascular Institute
The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network launched in 2014 to better connect community hospitals across the Commonwealth with the expertise and resources available at UK HealthCare. Throughout 2024, UK HealthCare is highlighting achievements by the 23 members of the Gill Affiliate Network (GAN) as part of the network’s 10th anniversary celebration.
The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute (NHVI) through its unique collaboration with Gill helps provide enhanced, specialized care for patients with advanced heart failure and those who require ventricular assist device (VAD) placement and heart transplant services.
What are key aspects of your cardiovascular program that people should know about?
Our institute consists of general cardiology, electrophysiology, structural heart, vascular, cardiothoracic surgery and heart failure. We have over 100 physicians and advanced providers with specialized training who provide comprehensive care.
The ventricular assist device (VAD) program within NHVI is nearing 50 implants since its inception in late 2020 and is credentialed by DNV. Our outcomes and follow-up care are greater than the benchmarks set by STS Intermacs, a North American registry that tracks the clinical outcomes of patients who receive FDA-approved mechanical circulatory support devices for the treatment of advanced heart failure. VAD programs use their data to monitor performance and to continually look for opportunities to improve patient care and outcomes.
How has being a part of the Gill Affiliate Network influenced how you care for those in your community?
Our programs work very well together to provide comprehensive care to patients needing advanced heart failure therapies. NHVI appreciates the relationship we have with the Gill Affiliate Network and the ability our programs have to help patients receive this care within their own city or state.
Our collaboration has allowed us to refer patients for transplant yet have them come back to our program for follow-up care. Keeping them in the state is key for their success, in our opinion.
Our monthly patient discussion meeting keeps communication flowing, however our teams have a direct line to one another for ongoing care. We have had patients who were able to receive a transplant without needing a VAD first as well as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients who have been able to receive transplants resulting from our collaboration.
Each year, the Gill Affiliate Network provides numerous educational and training opportunities, both remotely and in-person. What benefits has your team experienced from these opportunities?
The Pulse webinar series are great to share with our team for keeping them up to date. Our ECMO program visited UK HealthCare, whose providers shared their experience and knowledge. The annual meetings have been great for education and the sharing of ideas.
