There isn't anything you can do. It's a design flaw from the get-go. The lifters just aren't strong enough for the design parameters.
The bungled PCV system (that was just recently fixed with a valve cover update), combined with the fairly heavy usage that most of these engines see adds up to failure.
If you bought the truck new, took epic care of it, used only top notch oils, you MIGHT have been able to avoid an issue. Maybe.
To be fair, it's not really as bad of an issue as it seems. Yes, it's common. No, it's not a guarantee. It's like the VVT solenoids on Toyota V6's. Are they common? Yes. Widespread? Hardly. They built hundreds of thousands of those engines just like they built 5.3's as fast as they could move the assembly line.