American Heart Association and Mitral Foundation recognize Sarasota Memorial as Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center

Award honors hospital’s commitment to best practices

 Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota has received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award for the third time from the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation “for a demonstrated record of superior clinical outcomes resulting from evidence-based, guideline-directed degenerative mitral valve repair,” the hospital has announced.

Mitral valve repair is often the preferable treatment for patients with degenerative mitral valve disease because it is associated with improved survival and fewer long-term complications,” compared to valve replacement, a Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) news release explains.

The Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award was created through a partnership of the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation, with the goal of identifying, recognizing and promoting the nation’s recognized medical centers for mitral valve repair surgery, and to provide patients and referring physicians “with the resources needed to make a well-informed choice regarding the best heart team for mitral valve repair surgery,” the release points out.

“Sarasota Memorial earned the award for the third consecutive year, demonstrating 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.,” the release adds.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our dedication to providing the highest quality of care for our patients with mitral valve disease,” said Jonathan Hoffberger, DO, the director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in the release. “Our multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and technicians works together to offer the best possible treatment options for each individual patient, using the latest techniques and technologies,” he added in the release. “We are committed to advancing the field of mitral valve repair through research, education, and innovation.”

Patients and physicians who are interested in learning more about Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s mitral valve repair program may visit smh.com/heart, the release notes.

More information about the American Heart Association and Mitral Foundation Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award is available at on www.heart.org.