SMH Recognized for Excellence with ACC Transcatheter Valve Certification

December 18, 2020 – Sarasota

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Sarasota Memorial and the Structural Heart Team for its expertise in TAVR (transcatheter valve replacement procedures).  According to the ACC, SMH is the first hospital in Southwest Florida to be awarded Transcatheter Valve Certification. The certification is based on evaluation of the staff’s ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance. SMH is one of 25 hospitals nationwide to receive this 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.

SMH has been performing TAVR procedures since 2012, and as of December, 2020 has performed 1,235 TAVRs. Interventional cardiologists who currently perform the procedure at Sarasota Memorial include David Schreibman, MD and  Ricardo Yaryura, MD. The entire Structural Heart Team including cardiac surgeons, Jeffrey Sell, MD, Jonathan Hoffberger, MD, Jonathan Fong, MD and Thomas Kelly, MD, as well as Valve coordinator Patricia Conant MS, APRN, Cardiac Cath lab nurses and echo technologists all work in concert to provide an efficient and successful program with excellent outcomes. 

The health care system’s President and CEO David Verinder credits the entire cardiac team with this achievement. “Sarasota Memorial remains committed to providing the best possible care for our patients. This ACC Certification is thanks to the tireless efforts of the Cardiac Team at SMH to be on the forefront of care for our community.”

The 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.

“Sarasota Memorial has demonstrated its commitment to providing the Suncoast with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Sarasota Memorial with Transcatheter Valve Certification.”

About Sarasota Memorial

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 1 million patient visits each year. Its flagship 839-bed, acute-care hospital has been consistently recognized as one of the nation’s largest and best, with superior patient outcomes and a complete continuum of outpatient services – from urgent care, trauma and emergency services to laboratory and diagnostic imaging, home health, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. SMH is the only hospital in Florida to have consistently earned the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ highest five-star quality award since the rating system launched in 2016. 

About the American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions.

For more, visit acc.org.