Corewell Health TAVR Program Recognized by American College of Cardiology

TAVR reaccreditation maintains Corewell Health as the only program in Michigan with three accreditations and as a HeartCARE Center

June 29, 2023

Grand Rapids, Mich., June 29, 2023 – Corewell Health’s Structural Heart and Valve Center at Butterworth Hospital has received national reaccreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its TAVR program. Corewell Health is the only healthcare system in the state to achieve three ACC accreditations.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure during which interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons work together to replace the aortic valve with a collapsible, prosthetic valve via a catheter, which is threaded through an artery until it reaches the heart. The TAVR valve fits inside the abnormal valve and provides the necessary structure for the valve to operate normally. Patients typically go home the next day with a brand new heart valve. The procedure is performed on patients at low, intermediate, high, or extreme risk for open-heart surgery.

The Structural Heart and Valve Center at Butterworth Hospital received its first TAVR accreditation in 2021 and was recently reaccredited in 2023.

“TAVR has emerged as a life-saving therapy for many patients, and Corewell Health treats close to three times more medically complex and extreme risk patients than national averages, with excellent outcomes,” said William Merhi, DO, medical director, Structural Heart & Valve Center at Corewell Health. “Patients achieve improved outcomes at facilities with higher case volumes and this accreditation by the ACC recognizes Corewell Health’s demonstrated expertise, quality and commitment to providing exceptional cardiovascular care.”

Corewell Health is the second highest volume site of TAVR procedures in the state of Michigan and the oldest established site for the procedure in West Michigan. Corewell Health physicians have performed more than 2300 cases since 2011 and currently perform more than 300 cases each year.

“TAVR has evolved into the standard of care for the treatment of aortic valve disease,” Dr. Merhi said. “The benefits include easier and more rapid recovery time, a shorter length of hospital stay and reduced surgical complications compared with traditional open-heart surgery.”

Corewell Health’s TAVR reaccreditation is the latest in a long list of recognition by the American College of Cardiology.

The ACC also has recognized Corewell Health with accreditations for its electrophysiology lab and cardiac catheterization lab. With these three accreditations, Corewell Health has become eligible and has been designated as a HeartCARE Center of excellence. Corewell Health is the only health organization in Michigan to achieve this distinction highlighting the commitment to providing exceptional cardiac care.

The ACC accredited HeartCARE Center distinction honors institutions that advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement with a prestigious national distinction of excellence. HeartCARE Center designations are reviewed and awarded annually to ensure that all facilities continue to meet the parameters and criteria of a highly regarded and sustainable quality improvement program.

For all designations, organizations undergo a thorough and rigorous review of practices, processes and procedures.

The American College of Cardiology defines the value of accreditation as “saving lives, preventing irreparable heart damage, and improving the CV patient’s quality of life (as) the absolute fundamentals of accreditation. The net of improved CV outcomes means your facility can also measure success in terms of improved patient satisfaction and outcomes; a multi-disciplinary team approach to treatment; a precise CV care strategy; reduced risk and liability; and maximized reimbursements for CV treatment and procedures.”

About Corewell Health™

We can make health better. People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 22 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org

Contact:
Tim Hawkins
Media Relations
Office: 616.486.6091
Mobile: 616.443.0361
Email: timothy.hawkins@corewellhealth.org