The American College of Cardiology has awarded Billings (Mont.) Clinic transcatheter valve certification, making it the only center in a region spanning several states to be certified for minimally invasive transcatheter valve interventions, local CBS affiliate KTVQ reported Sept. 22.
Billings Clinic is now the only center certified for transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures in a region spanning Montana, Wyoming, the western Dakotas and Idaho.
"Being honored as our region's first accredited valve center is a testament to the tremendous hard work, dedication and focus on safety from the entire team here at Billings Clinic," said Per Sommer, MD, interventional cardiologist and valve center program director at the health system.
Billings Clinic performed its first TAVR in 2016, and recently marked its 400th procedure. It's the highest volume TAVR program in the region, KTVQ reports.
"Many patients may not have other options when it comes to potentially life-saving heart care," Brett Oestreich, MD, interventional cardiologist at Billings Clinic. "TAVR can change that for them. Our entire team works to ensure successful outcomes for our patients so that they can continue to live their lives in the ways they want. This certification is the product of that commitment."
Hospitals that earn transcatheter valve certification from the American College of Cardiology undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting "high quality standards for trascatheter multidisciplinary heart teams, formalized training, and shared decision-making."