Ascension Providence completes benchmark program

Ascension Providence is the first hospital in Texas to be recognized through the Edwards Benchmark program for the treatment of aortic stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Aortic stenosis is the narrowing of a valve in the large blood vessel branching off the heart, which reduces blood flow to the body and makes the heart work harder. TAVR is a minimally invasive heart procedure to replace aortic stenosis, which is an option for people who are at intermediate or high risk of complications from open-heart surgery.

The Edwards Benchmark program, jointly developed by Edwards Lifesciences and the Centre for Heart Valve Innovation at the University of British Columbia, is "designed to align the multidisciplinary heart team on the minimalist TAVR approach and improve the patient clinical pathway." Additional program goals include improved safety outcomes, such as 30-day mortality and stroke of less than one percent, permanent pacemaker implants of less than six percent and more than 80 percent of discharges within one day to home.

“Ascension Providence is and always will be committed to caring for the people of Central Texas, and dedicated to the improvement and advancement of cardiovascular care in our community,” said Dr. Brian Barnett, associate medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Ascension Providence. “We are grateful for the positive patient outcomes thus far, as well as every team member who has helped make the program a success.”

Ascension Providence has remained focused on developing a comprehensive structural heart program since 2011. In 2018, Ascension Providence launched the only TAVR program in Waco in collaboration with Waco Cardiology Associates.

Ascension Providence was also recently recognized by The American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in the treatment of patients receiving transcatheter replacement procedures.