CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System kicked off American Heart Month with a celebratory certification announcement by the American College of Cardiology. CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center received recognition for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter valve repair and replacement procedures.
“Being recognized for excellence in performing the TAVR procedure is a testament to the institutional commitment by CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center and our commitment to meet the individual needs of our cardiovascular patients. We are demonstrating how a collaborative effort between cardiologists and heart surgeons provides forward-thinking, advanced heart care and results in exceptional patient outcomes,” said Rodney Reeves, M.D., interventional cardiologist, CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center.
CHRISTUS Highland was awarded Transcatheter Valve Certification in January based on evaluation of the staff’s ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance.
“This procedure is a true lifesaver. There is nothing more self-evident than seeing someone with debilitating symptoms who receives the TAVR valve, up the next day walking around feeling great with a renewed sense of energy and stamina. Every patient has a unique set of circumstances and we work together to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the therapy they need,” said John Evans, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon, CHRISTUS Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
The ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Accreditation is an external review and certification process that pairs with established national clinical databases to monitor patient safety and real-world databases such as the STS/ACC TVT Registry is required for hospitals interested in achieving Transcatheter Valve Certification.
“CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing Northwest Louisiana 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 CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center 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.
“The use of the TAVR procedure in our array of treatment options really speaks to the world-class continuum of care available for heart patients in Northwest Louisiana,” said Steen Trawick, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. “Accreditation is how we can communicate to our community the value we place on excellent patient care. Essentially, if a patient is having a heart problem of any kind, they can visit CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center and be assured of best practice patient care performed by the most highly-trained and distinguished providers in the region.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center 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. For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visit accreditation.acc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.