Today the UNC Structural Heart Program in Chapel Hill was ACC Certified as a TAVR Center of Excellence. This is quite a distinction as we are the first program in the state of North Carolina to be awarded this honor. Congratulations to the wonderful team on such a momentous achievement! Thank you to everyone for your support in helping us build such a wonderful program!
TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) is a procedure to treat aortic stenosis, a type of heart valve disease, that does not require open-heart surgery. In 2019, the ACC began to offer TAVR certification to help hospitals implement best practices and identify quality improvement opportunities. The certification pairs with established national clinical databases to monitor patient safety, real-world outcomes related to transcatheter valve replacement and repair procedures.
The ACC’s external review and certification process assists hospitals in meeting standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, and shared decision-making, incorporating recent guidelines and expert consensus regarding the care of patients requiring transcatheter valve therapies.
By connecting current sources of data to opportunities for improvement, the ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification promotes consistent processes and places emphasis on the commitment to providing evidence-based, patient-centered care and coordination post-procedure, resulting in better patient outcomes.
Tommy Caranasos, MD, surgical director of the UNC TAVR Program, says the certification reflects UNC’s commitment to delivering the highest level of care to patients across North Carolina.
“We all work to care for our patients as we would our family,” said Caranasos, assistant professor of surgery. “This program allows us to deliver exceptional patient care, and it’s fantastic to see it recognized as the first TAVR Center of Excellence in the state.”
Read the full article by Kim Morris, Communications Specialist with the Department of Medicine.