Mary Washington Hospital Achieves Distinguished 3-star Ranking for TAVR Heart Valve Program

Fredericksburg, va, January 12, 2023 ― Mary Washington Hospital has earned the highest rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Heart Valve Registry for its patient care and outcomes in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), the only program with the three-star ranking in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology denotes the highest category of quality from October 2018-September 2021. This designation places Mary Washington Hospital among the elite for TAVR heart care in the United States and Canada, representing the top four to eight percent of all centers, depending on procedure.

“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons congratulates STS National Database participants who have received three-star ratings,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “Participation in the database and public reporting demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement in health care delivery and provides patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about health care.”

The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada. The 3-star rating for TAVR outcomes is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures.

“Mary Washington Healthcare is honored to be recognized for the high-quality cardiac care we provide, resulting in long-term positive results for our patients,” said Mike McDermott, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary Washington Healthcare. “We are committed to serving the healthcare needs of our community with the most advanced technology and outstanding clinical teams.”

The Mary Washington Hospital TAVR program is led by the hospital’s cardiovascular surgeons, John Cardone, MD and Alex Na, MD, along with interventional cardiologists, Arijit Chanda, MD, Micaela lantorno, MD and Samad Zaheeruddin, MD.

Our multidisciplinary team carefully evaluates each patient to determine if this minimally invasive procedure is the best approach.

Severe aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening that does not allow normal blood flow. In elderly patients, severe aortic stenosis is sometimes caused by the build-up of calcium on the aortic valve’s leaflets. TAVR provides a unique option for patients to have a valve replacement without open heart surgery.

TAVR is performed in specialized operating rooms. During the procedure, a small incision is made either in the leg or chest, and a catheter (a hollow tube) is inserted into the artery and guided to the heart. A new heart valve is then positioned inside the diseased valve with guidance from special imaging equipment. The valve is implanted, opening the narrowing, and allowing blood to flow easily out of the heart to the rest of the body. The procedure takes between one and two hours and most patients can go home the day after the procedure. For more information, visit Heart.mwhc.com.

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About Mary Washington Healthcare:

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through more than 50 facilities and services including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, please visit mwhc.com.

About The Society of Thoracic Surgeons:

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 7,300 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.

About The American College of Cardiology:

The American College of Cardiology is a non-for-profit organization that represents more than 55,000 cardiologists, researchers, and allied health professionals worldwide whose vision is a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. The College’s mission is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health along with core values comprising patient centered care, teamwork and collaboration, and professionalism and excellence.