HONOLULU – The Queen’s Heart Institute at The Queen’s Medical Center has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter valve repair and replacement procedures.
The Queen’s Heart Institute is the first and only cardiac center in Hawaiʻi to receive this recognition. The award recognizes excellence in care and expertise, and an ability to meet the high standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making, and performance.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally-invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic heart valve that fails to fully open (aortic stenosis). Patients with this diagnosis suffer from restricted blood flow as well as shortness of breath and chest pain. TAVR allows the aortic valve to be replaced without open heart surgery. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, many patients can expect an in-hospital recovery time of one day or less.
“This revolutionary treatment is already saving lives in our communities. I’m extremely proud of our Queen’s Heart team for achieving this prestigious certification that recognizes their dedication to delivering quality care to our patients. Providing innovative treatments, such as TAVR, helps us deliver on our commitment to being our patient’s lifetime partner in health,” said Benjamin Plank, MD, Medical Director, Valve and Structural Heart Disease, The Queen’s Heart Institute.
“The Queen’s Health System has demonstrated its commitment to providing Hawaiʻi with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award The Queen’s Medical Center with Transcatheter Valve Certification.”
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.
The certification uses established national clinical measures to support clinical decisions and links process improvement to patient outcomes. Hospitals that achieve Transcatheter Valve Certification implement evidence-based practices to support patient-centered decision-making, and track key performance metrics to continuously identify opportunities for improvement.
