Best Practices

Your Leadership 2026

Chair:         Florian Mueller

Co-Chair:   Kristina Forsmark

Contact:     bestpractise@vadcoordinator.org

Mission/Vision

Our mission is to serve as a framework for VAD/MCS Coordinator-driven care that is most current, evidence based, and compliant with regulatory standards.

These directives represent consensus of the MCS community that are intended for multiple, diverse programs in achieving optimal patient outcomes.

Our vision is to develop best practices and clinical pearls in the care of MCS patients through interdisciplinary collaboration with the Research and Education Committee.

Our secondary mission is to serve as a resource to new programs and novice MCS clinicians.

Goals

The Best Practice Committee is responsible for identifying VAD/MCS practice issues of concern or in need of guidance.

The Best Practice Committee will select projects and assemble a team of interested members to work on research projects.

Final results are shared with the Research Committee and the ICCAC Board of Directors for approval and will then be shared with ICCAC membership.

Specific goals include:

• Continuously add valuable content/documents to website
• Launch EMS/Field Guide App
• Publish the project of Ventricular Assist Device Patients without Caregivers
• Publish the project of MCS Program Staffing Structure
• Publish the project of Frailty Exam
• Publish the project of Disaster Plan
• Publish the project of Coordinator Role Defining

Join The Committee

Interested members can submit a short biography to bestpractice@vadcoordinator.org

WE NEED YOU!

Best Practice Committee Membership:

• Committee will have at least 5 active ICCAC members.
• Industry representation may be on the committee.
• Team/topic leaders cannot be industry members.
• Ancillary ICCAC members may be on the committee for projects requiring that discipline's input.
• Recruitment achieved through the MCS Collaboration board, newsletter articles, word of mouth via colleagues, and communication from the Board of Directors/Officers.

Committee Membership Requirements:

• Attendance on (1) call per month
• Expected 75% attendance
• Chair/Chair-elect will monitor attendance
• Participation in at least (1) project per year
• No limit on the number of projects a member may participate in

Current projects:

• Driveline Management
  1. Addresses common dressing techniques, wound dressings, disinfectants, and prevention
• BIVAD / HM6
  1. Addresses biventricular support using 2x HeartMate 3 as a VAD or TAH
• MCS Field Awareness
  1. Addresses monitoring and tracking of difficulties with device components
• Intimacy with LVAD
  1. Addresses intimacy in all its facets (sexual intercourse, pregnancy, body awareness, …)
• Extrinsic Outflow Graft Obstruction
  1. Addresses analysis and standardization of EOGOs
• MCS Emergency App
  1. Addresses the provision of emergency information as well as updating and implementing new devices
• Airport Security
  1. Addresses air travel and guidance for airport procedures
• VAD ECHO
  1. Addresses the learning of ECHO skills for VAD coordinators
• Blood Pressure Management
  1. Addresses measurement and interpretation of the various methods of measuring blood pressure
• VAD Certification Worldwide
  1. Addresses a worldwide "standardization" of our profession, adapted to each respective country

Have an idea for a new project? → Let us know!!!

Resource Center