NORTHWEST INDIANA | Building on Powers Health’s reputation as a leader in cardiovascular care, the Structural Heart and Valve team at Community Hospital recently was recertified for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter valve repair and replacement.
The American College of Cardiology awarded the Transcatheter Valve recertification to Community Hospital based on evaluation of the staff’s ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR, is a minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of aortic stenosis, a disease that causes the aortic valve to narrow and restrict blood flow in the heart. The damaged aortic valve is replaced through the use of a catheter inserted into an artery in the leg and delivered and implanted in the heart. This minimally invasive approach saves patients from having to endure the rigors of a conventional open-heart surgery.
The Structural Heart and Valve team, which has participated in multiple clinical trials and research, is one of the most experienced in the Chicagoland area. In 2017, it became the first in Northwest Indiana to perform TAVR. Since then, more than 1,200 TAVRs have been performed at Community Hospital.
“The American College of Cardiology recertification validates Powers Health’s cardiology program and the high-quality experience and skills of our team to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care,” said Samer Abbas, MD, an interventional cardiologist and co-medical director of Powers Health Cardiovascular Services and Structural Heart and Valve Clinic.
The procedure is performed in an advanced hybrid operating room as well as in a specially equipped cardiac catheterization lab. High-definition video integration technology aids the team in real-time image guidance and continual medical assessment. A team of fellowship-trained interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons leads the procedure.
The ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification is an external review and validation process that leverages best practices as measured by national clinical databases to evaluate patient safety and real-world outcomes for transcatheter valve therapies. Hospitals pursuing this certification must participate in national registries such as the STS/ACC TVT Registry.
This certification incorporates national clinical measures to support clinical decision-making and directly connects process improvement to patient outcomes. Certified hospitals adopt best practices for evidence-based care, strengthen patient-centered decision-making and track key performance metrics to identify opportunities for continued improvement.
“The Structural Heart and Valve program at Community Hospital is a collective of interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and specially trained nurses, technicians and imaging specialists,” said Dale O’Donnell, vice president of Cardiology Services for Powers Health. “Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional care, ensuring our patients have access to the latest innovations in heart health.”
The ACC offers hospitals in the U.S. and worldwide – including Community Hospital – with a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and enhance operational performance, with particular focus on programs such as transcatheter valve therapies.
For more information about cardiovascular services at the hospitals of Powers Health, visit PowersHealth.org/heart
