Bayhealth First in State to Receive National Certification for TAVR Program

Achieves Highest Standards in Quality and Safety

As the region’s healthcare leader, Bayhealth continues to bring innovative treatments to Delaware residents. Bayhealth is the first and only healthcare system in Delaware to be certified by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) as a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Center of Excellence. The minimally invasive TAVR procedure provides an alternative to open heart surgery for certain patients with severe aortic stenosis in need of a new heart valve. The ACC certification further affirms the commitment of Bayhealth and its TAVR team to the highest standards of quality and safety.

“Our program was scrutinized on many levels to earn this certification,” said Bayhealth Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon and TAVR Program Medical Director Gary Szydlowski, MD. “We’ve worked hard in growing and continually enhancing our TAVR program since we started it in 2016. Being certified validates that we have an excellent program with excellent results, and we’re quite proud of that.”

The ACC’s external review and certification process uses national clinical measures to assess the quality and safety of TAVR programs throughout the U.S. Bayhealth was awarded the certification based on its TAVR team’s ability to meet high standards for its multidisciplinary approach, formalized training, shared decision-making, and national registry performance.

“Being the first in our state to receive TAVR certification demonstrates that Bayhealth is at the forefront in bringing the highest quality of cardiac care to our community,” said Bayhealth Vice President of Ancillary and Clinical Services Brad Kirkes, MBA, MHA, OTR/L, CHT, FACHE. “For patients needing an aortic valve replacement, they can feel confident knowing they can receive care close to home from a talented team as part of a certified TAVR program with proven results here at Bayhealth.”  

Visit Bayhealth.org/TAVR for more information or visit Bayhealth.org/Heart-and-Vascular to learn about all the ways Bayhealth can help take care of your heart health needs.