American College of Cardiology Recognizes Lutheran Hospital With Transcatheter Valve Certification
6/17/2020
Fort Wayne, Ind.(June 18, 2020) - The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Lutheran Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter valve repair and replacement (TAVR) procedures. The Transcatheter Valve Certification is based on evaluation of the staff's ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance. Lutheran Hospital is one of the first ten facilities nationwide to receive this certification.
Patients for whom this advanced approach may be an option are those who are unable to have open heart surgery to treat aortic stenosis, a life-threatening heart valve condition. As a minimally invasive procedure, specialists are able to repair diseased or damaged aortic valve for seriously ill heart patients who are at too high a risk for traditional valve replacement surgery.
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.
"Lutheran Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing the community with excellent heart care," said Phillip D. Levy, M.D., FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. "ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Lutheran Hospital with Transcatheter Valve Certification."
"Lutheran Hospital served as the first hospital in northern Indiana to offer the TAVR procedure," said Vijay Chilakamarri, M.D., interventional cardiologist, Lutheran Health Physicians. "By achieving this certification, it not only exemplifies Lutheran Hospital's ability to provide cardiovascular care that is a level above, but also that we are well-equipped to assist heart patients with their individual treatment needs - mild to severe."
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.
"As a tertiary care center, Lutheran Hospital offers a full spectrum of specialty services, including Heart & Vascular, Orthopedics, Oncology, Burn and Surgical Services to the people of Northeast Indiana and beyond. The TAVR certification highlights the dedication of our team to providing safe, patient-centered care with quality outcomes close to home," said Brady Dubois, CEO, Lutheran Hospital. "Our highly skilled physicians and staff are focused on excellence - and taking the very best care of every patient we are privileged to serve."
About Lutheran Health Network
The foundation of Lutheran Health Network is built on an experienced team of more than 7,000 employees working together with the more than 800 affiliated physicians. The network's more than 100 access points in northern Indiana include acute care hospitals, outpatient care centers, physician offices and urgent care clinics.
About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals,operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visitacc.org. For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visitaccreditation.acc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.
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