Ventricular assist device (VAD)

Mayo Clinic's approach

At Mayo Clinic, doctors trained in heart disease (cardiologists), doctors trained in heart surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) and other health care providers work together to deliver coordinated, comprehensive care.

• Individualized approach. Healthcare professionals at Mayo Clinic care for you as a whole person. They take the time to get to know you and work with you to provide exactly the care you need.
• Pediatric expertise. Sometimes a child may need a ventricular assist device. Doctors trained in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery care for children who have heart disease at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota.
• Advanced treatment. Mayo Clinic provides many innovative treatments for people with advanced heart failure. Ventricular assist devices may be a treatment option for complex heart conditions such as restrictive cardiomyopathy, amyloidosis and other high-risk conditions.
• Accessible locations. Mayo Clinic's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota each offer a Heart Failure Clinic with a team of cardiologists and other healthcare professionals trained in evaluating and treating heart failure. Each of these three sites are served by international airports.
• Innovative research. Mayo surgeons use their expertise to develop new designs of ventricular assist devices to use in specific cases.

The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

Expertise and rankings

Mayo Clinic cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons have expertise in treating people who may need ventricular assist devices (VADs). Each year, about 150 people have ventricular assist devices implanted at Mayo Clinic.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic Children's in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

With Mayo Clinic's emphasis on collaborative care, specialists at each of the campuses — Arizona, Minnesota and Florida — interact closely with colleagues at the other campuses and Mayo Clinic Health System.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's cardiovascular surgery and cardiovascular medicine departments' expertise and rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.