Sustainability report

Patient experience & voice

Edwards Lifesciences works to improve the patient experience and engage the patient voice to support our aspiration of transforming patient lives with breakthrough medical technologies. As one of Edwards’ most material sustainability topics, we continue to evolve our program to better meet the needs of our patients. Understanding the patient experience and listening to patient voices strengthens our innovation, production, and delivery of solutions to help those fighting cardiovascular disease.

Definition

Continuously improving the patient experience with therapies developed with feedback and input from patients while empowering patients to support and aid each other.

Our aspirations

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Transforming patient lives with breakthrough medical technologies

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Fostering an inclusive culture where all employees grow and thrive

Material topics
Highlight story

Transforming Lives, One Patient at a Time

In May 2022, Edwards Lifesciences welcomed 80 visitors, including patients, their care partners and guests to our Irvine, Calif. corporate headquarters to get an insiders’ look into our more than 60-year history, meet the teams who made their heart valves and share their inspirational journeys with our employees.

Sarah Sue, a 20-year-old Ohio State University student who attends school on a volleyball scholarship, was among them. She and her parents, Mike and Carole, spent an emotional two days getting to know the company behind the heart valve technology that has forever changed their daughter’s life.

Sarah Sue is a congenital heart patient who had her first open-heart surgery soon after birth. She had to have subsequent surgeries, and, in December 2020, she made the decision to have her pulmonary valve replaced in order to continue playing volleyball. The transcatheter heart valve therapy had her back on the court just a few weeks after surgery, playing the game she loves.

Now, every time she steps onto the volleyball court, she thanks her new heart valve, which she affectionately calls Valerie. Sarah Sue has become a patient advocate through her collaboration with the American Heart Association and is able to bring hope to other families by sharing her journey.