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For Physicians: How to Refer a Patient
Dear Colleague:
You may be aware that Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is one of only three facilities in the nation approved to offer the world’s first fully implantable artificial heart – the AbioCor. Training has been underway for months, and we are now in the final preparations which include identifying an appropriate patient.
The AbioCor is designed for patients with end-stage heart failure who are not eligible for a heart transplant and who have no other treatment alternatives. Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Less than 75 years old
- In left and right-sided heart failure
- Projected survival is very poor
- Meet the physical size requirements necessary to fit the replacement heart in their chest
- Have a support system in place to assist with their recovery
The potential benefits of the AbioCor are specific to each individual. Some of these potential benefits include an increased life expectancy, improved quality of life, and extended time with family and friends.
I welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about the AbioCor and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact me at 732-235-8725 at any time. More information about the AbioCor can also be found on this web site as well as on the Abiomed website at www.heartreplacement.com.
Sincerely,
Mark B. Anderson, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Chief, Section of Cardiac Surgery, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital