UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham once again earned Transcatheter Valve Certification from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), which recognizes the hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced, high-quality heart care. This re-certification is effective until 2029. It followed a full review by ACC Accreditation Services, which confirmed that UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham meets all standards required for performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.
TAVR is used to treat aortic valve stenosis – a narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve – by replacing the diseased valve with a biological tissue valve. It is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning that only a few small incisions (cuts) are required. This allows most patients to heal faster and be discharged sooner, with less pain and a lower risk of complications compared to open-heart surgery.
This achievement reflects the strength of UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham’s multispecialty structural heart team, which brings together experts in cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesia, and support services to provide coordinated, patient-centered care. The team is led by Mike Parks, M.D.; Monica Hunter, M.D.; and John Thurber, M.D.