Eisenhower Health is still the only hospital in the Coachella Valley to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure which gained FDA approval in 2011. Since the hospital launched its TAVR program in 2015, the TAVR team has performed nearly 600 procedures so far. The procedure is used to treat aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart valve that often leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and fatigue.
The ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification is an external review and certification process that pairs with established national clinical databases to monitor patient safety and real-world outcomes related to transcatheter valve therapies. Participation in established national clinical databases such as the STS/ACC TVT Registry is required for hospitals interested in achieving Transcatheter Valve Certification.
“Eisenhower Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Coachella with excellent heart care,” says Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Eisenhower Health with Transcatheter Valve Certification.”
The certification uses established national clinical measures to support clinical decisions and links process improvement to patient outcomes. Hospitals that achieve Transcatheter Valve Certification learn best practices for implementing evidence-based medicine to support patient-centered decision-making and can track key performance metrics to better identify opportunities for improvement.
“Eisenhower Health has developed a collaborative heart team that is committed to improving the care of patients receiving transcatheter valve procedures,” says Scott Strech, RN, BSN, MBA, Chief Administrative Officer/Administrator, Cardiovascular Services, Eisenhower Health. “The mission of our Structural Heart Program, guided by our interdisciplinary team, is to provide high quality patient centered care for the treatment of valvular heart disease through formalized training and innovative technologies. Having Eisenhower Health recognized as a center of excellence by the American College of Cardiology in transcatheter valve therapies attests to our performance and commitment in delivering the best treatment options and improving the outcomes of our patients.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Eisenhower Health access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including transcatheter valve therapies.