The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) continues to advance its mission of delivering elite cardiovascular care, earning the highest possible rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in multiple adult cardiac surgery categories. This recognition marks a major milestone in HVI’s ongoing commitment to excellence and quality in cardiovascular medicine, placing its Advanced Heart Valve Program within the top 3 percent for quality in the nation.
The Heart and Vascular Institute has earned prestigious 3-star quality ratings in overall aortic valve replacement, overall mitral valve repair and replacement, and overall multiprocedural cardiac surgery, which includes both coronary artery bypass grafting combined with multivalve procedures.
The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in healthcare. The 3-star rating denotes the highest category of quality and is based on rigorous analysis of clinical outcomes, including mortality, morbidity, and adherence to evidence-based practices.
These distinctions are especially meaningful given their rarity. Only a few of the eligible programs nationwide receive 3 stars in aortic or mitral valve surgery or the multiprocedural surgery categories. Even more impressively, just 2.8 percent of programs across the United States achieved 3-star ratings in all three of these categories — an elite group that now includes WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
“The mission of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is to provide access to the highest quality care to all we serve, but as close to home whenever possible,” Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the HVI and chair of the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, said.
“When patients require more complex valve procedures or access advanced techniques like robotics, a comprehensive team approach may be needed. I remain very proud of the multidisciplinary team of experts at the HVI who come together every day to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients, whether they are from Philippi or the Philippines.”
In addition to the flagship quaternary care center, the HVI locations at Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg and at Wheeling Hospital also received 3-star ratings for bypass surgery, further demonstrating the strength and consistency of care throughout the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute footprint.
“Across WVU Medicine, we have a steadfast commitment to excellence, and one of our central pillars has been the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said.
“The HVI in Morgantown regularly receives patients from across the country and around the world for its specialized valve repair and replacement techniques. As it often cares for patients of higher complexity, the quality recognition from the STS is even more significant and reflects years of consistent outcomes – a point of pride for West Virginia.”
For more information on the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Heart.
