The Providence St. Joseph Hospital Heart and Vascular Center’s Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program was recently awarded a three-star rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology, which ranks the program in the top 7% of hospitals nationwide.
Every TAVR program in the United States submits data to the registry, which is used to monitor patient safety and real-world outcomes related to TAVR procedures. The data covers a three-year period and grades hospitals from a one- to three-star rating system on patient outcomes after a TAVR procedure. St. Joseph Hospital received the highest rating available—three-stars—placing the TAVR program among the top 7% of hospitals nationwide.
“This achievement is a testament to our amazing multidisciplinary team that cares for our patients.” According to Jennifer Hall, MSN, MBA, RN, COHN-S, Executive Director of Surgical, Cardiovascular, Renal and Transplant Services, Congratulations to the many providers and caregivers who support the structural heart program, and who provide excellent, compassionate care for our patients.”
TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a restricted, calcified aortic valve (aortic stenosis) with a new valve. In aortic stenosis the valve leaflets calcify and thicken, restricting blood flow. Aortic stenosis causes the heart to work harder, resulting in fatigue, shortness of breath, heart failure, palpitations, fainting, and other symptoms. In a TAVR procedure, the aortic valve is replaced via a small incision in the groin. Because TAVR is so safe and successful in high-risk patients, in 2019 the FDA approved its use in patients at lower risk as well.
Since St. Joseph Hospital first began providing TAVR procedures in 2016, we have replaced aortic valves in more than 600 patients. Since 2016. our program has quickly grown to qualify as a high-volume center in Orange County. In fact, our physicians and team members train other physicians and clinicians in the TAVR procedure.
