Heart Failure Quality Indicators
Left ventricular function assessment
The left ventricle (LV) of the heart is the chamber that pumps blood to the rest of the body. Left ventricular function is often affected in persons with heart failure.
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, therefore, recommends LV assessment as a key diagnostic test for persons with suspected heart failure.
The most common test to assess LV function is the echocardiogram, or "echo." This test helps the physician determine how the heart is affected.
A measure called the left ventricular ejection fraction or LVEF is used to check for damage due to heart attacks and other conditions. The LVEF value for a person with no heart damage is usually around 60 percent.
Does UVa perform left ventricular function assessments when indicated for suspected heart failure patients?
Yes. At UVa 99 percent of our patients with suspected heart failure undergo a left ventricular function assessment during the course of their diagnoses and treatment. This compares to 88 percent of heart failure patients across the state and 82 percent of patients nationwide. UVa ranks among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the country in this element of care as documented by the Hospital Quality Alliance, a Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services program.
