St. Joseph’s Health Hospital Awarded for Demonstrated Excellence in Heart Valve Repair

Mitral valve repair is one of the most challenging heart operations, but the results for patients with degenerative mitral valve disease can be outstanding, with improved survival and few long-term complications. 

St. Joseph’s Health Hospital has been recognized by the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation for its commitment to this life-enhancing procedure. Receiving the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award means experienced surgical teams at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital strive for superior clinical outcomes for their patients, guided by data-driven oversight from two highly respected health organizations.

This recognition shows commitment to best practices, high-quality care for degenerative mitral valve surgery. The award was developed to identify, recognize, and promote U.S. medical centers that demonstrate adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines as well as an ongoing commitment to reporting and measuring quality and outcome metrics specific to mitral valve repairs.

"We are honored to receive the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Award, which highlights the outstanding dedication of our cardiac surgery team to providing exceptional care and achieving superior patient outcomes,” said Meredith Price, Senior Vice President of Acute Operations at St. Joseph’s Health. “This prestigious recognition underscores our hospital's unwavering commitment to clinical excellence and innovation in cardiac care."

“Award recipients like St. Joseph’s Health Hospital must meet rigorous outcomes criteria for repair rates, mortality and durability,” says David H. Adams, MD, Professor and Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System and President of the Mitral Foundation. “Patients receiving care at a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award-winning facility can have confidence in their guideline-directed care.”

The recommended treatment for degenerative mitral valve disease is mitral valve reconstruction, as opposed to valve replacement with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve because valve repair is associated with improved survival and fewer long-term complications. Many patients who would benefit from repair receive replacement valves, with higher rates of death or complications within five years after surgery.

“We are pleased to recognize St. Joseph’s Health Hospital for its commitment to patients with degenerative mitral valve disease,” said Robert O. Bonow, MD, professor of cardiology at Northwestern University and past president of the American Heart Association. “Choosing the right hospital for heart surgery is one of the most important health care decisions made by patients and their referring physicians. The Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center award identifies hospitals with excellent processes and outcomes and gives patients and cardiologists the information necessary to make these important decisions.”

This is the fifth consecutive year that St. Joseph’s Health Hospital has achieved this recognition since the program launched in November of 2019.

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About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health, a non-profit health care system in Syracuse, New York, has been a trailblazer in the field since 1869 when it became the city’s first public hospital. Its commitment to exceptional care is evident in a network of acute, ambulatory, primary and specialty care services and partner care facilities providing a range of services to promote long-term health in the communities we serve. St. Joseph’s has been ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, is a designated Primary Stroke Center, and is consistently named a Best Regional Hospital and #1 in the Syracuse Metro area by US News and World Report. St. Joseph’s Health is dedicated to excellence, innovation and compassionate patient care. From pioneering ambulance services in Syracuse to being the first in Central New York to use DaVinci robotic surgery technology in an outpatient facility, St. Joseph’s legacy of firsts demonstrates its ongoing commitment to leading medical advancements. Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and a member of Trinity Health, St. Joseph’s Health is your trusted partner in health, combining a rich history with a forward-thinking approach to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.

About Trinity Health

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, its annual operating revenue in FY2023 was $21.6 billion with $1.5 billion returned to its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.