Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Roles in Heart and Lung Transplantation
Course Description
This session provides a multi-center overview of the roles and practice models of advanced practice providers (APPs)—including nurse practitioners and physician assistants—in heart and lung transplantation programs. APP leaders from four transplant centers describe how their program’s structure inpatient and outpatient coverage, define scope of practice, manage staffing ratios, and support continuity of care across the transplant lifecycle.
Faculty compare operational models across lung, heart, and combined programs, highlighting differences in service design (primary vs consult models), readmission management, ICU involvement, billing approaches, and collaboration with physicians, pharmacists, coordinators, and surgical teams. The session also examines workforce strategies in response to rising transplant volumes, including APP reporting structures, use of float and cross-trained staff, bridge roles between inpatient and outpatient services, and development of APP fellowship programs to build specialized transplant expertise. The discussion emphasizes how APPs function at the top of their scope to improve access, continuity, and quality of care for advanced heart and lung disease and transplant patients.
- Kathryn Hughes, MSN, APRN, AGACNP, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA (Chair)
- Meg Fregoso, MSN, NP-BC, CCTC, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA (Chair)
- Elizabeth Olsen, APRN, CNP, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Cody Roger, PA-C. Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Faculty Disclosures
The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) are committed to ensuring balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in its educational activities. HFSA has a disclosure policy that requires oral presenters to disclose all relevant financial relationships for themselves and their spouse or partner during the past 24-months with any commercial entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients and related to the content of the activity, whether or not these commercial entities are supporters of the activity.
Speakers will have a disclosure slide at the beginning of each presentation. All potential conflicts of interest have been resolved in accordance with the ACCME Updated Standards for Commercial Support.
The following faculty and/or accreditors with ability to control content for this activity have no conflict of interest:
- Kathryn Hughes, MSN, APRN, AGACNP
- Meg Fregoso, MSN, NP-BC, CCTC
- Elizabeth Olsen, APRN, CNP
- Cody Roger, PA-C
Off-Label Disclosure
This CME activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Participants are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this CME activity is for continuing medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and treatment options for a specific patient’s medical condition.
Continuing Education Credit Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity is jointly provided by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). The Heart Failure Society of America is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The Heart Failure Society of America designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This educational activity is approved for nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) units by the Heart Failure Society of America. This activity is approved for a maximum of 0.50 contact hours. Learners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The Heart Failure Society of America has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.50 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
As a designated Approved Provider by the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC), the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grants up to 2.25 Category 1 Continuing Education Points for Transplant Coordinators (CEPTCs) for this offering. CEPTC Approval Number: 221-32.
This activity, as part of the bundle, offers 0.50 CEPTCs
Successful completion of this activity includes the completion of the post-course evaluation.