WellSpan Leads the Way in Structural Heart Programs By Barry Sparks
“We have a comprehensive structural heart program,” says Harvey. “We can perform every cardiovascular procedure with the exception of heart transplants. We have a wellestablished and highly experienced team trained to recognize patients at risk and how to properly treat them.” WellSpan brings together the expertise of diagnostic cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, advanced practice clinicians, and clinical staff to treat structural heart conditions. WellSpan’s team of cardiologists treats a wide range of structural heart conditions, including:
WellSpan cardiologists have become so adept at repairing heart defects with the latest techniques that they teach others around the country and the world. Dr. James Harvey, an interventional cardiologist and director of WellSpan’s structural heart program, has taught at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Groups of cardiologists from Texas and India have traveled to WellSpan York Hospital to observe Harvey perform procedures. “We have taught our techniques to physicians from more than 100 hospitals across the United States and around the world,” says Harvey. In particular, Harvey shares his • Aortic stenosis expertise in performing a transcatheter aortic • Atrial fibrillation valve replacement, called TAVR. WellSpan’s Dr. James Harvey, interventional high volume of TAVR cases and quality • Mitral regurgitation cardiologist at WellSpan and outcomes has generated tremendous interest. • Mitral stenosis director of WellSpan’s structural TAVR is one of several structural heart • Atrial or ventricular septal defect (a hole heart program. procedures performed at WellSpan York in the heart) Hospital. Structural heart disease refers to a defect in the heart’s valves, walls, or chambers. The • Failing surgical valves condition can be present at birth or develop over time. The • Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy chances of developing structural heart disease increase if you • Paravalvular regurgitation have high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, are taking certain medications, or have had a previous heart attack, rheumatic fever, As part of its improvement process, WellSpan’s Heart and endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, or certain other infections. Vascular Service Line participates in clinical trials and conducts TAVR is a nonsurgical procedure that involves the insertion its own research. Clinical trials are designed to identify the of a catheter into the patient’s leg artery. Through this catheter, newest and most effective treatment methods for cardiovascular a new valve is delivered to the heart through the aorta and disease. supported by an expandable metal cage. It replaces the diseased Harvey attributes much of the success of WellSpan’s valve with a new and normally functioning valve. structural heart program to its team approach. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, most patients “In our program, all the heart and vascular physicians are are able to go home within one day. Patients usually feel better located in the same building, often with offices next to each immediately. other. We interact with each other, share information, and work “TAVR use to be reserved for patients who were too sick for toward a common goal — the improved health of the patient. surgery, but over the years we’ve found it works well for patients There’s incredible synergy,” he says. who also are at moderate or low risk for surgery,” says Harvey. The result is a broader, multidisciplinary perspective that “There’s been a paradigm shift. And technology has made the benefits patients. difference.” “Our care is designed around the patient,” Harvey says. “As WellSpan York Hospital has one of the busiest structural heart programs in the region, performing more than 500 procedures in a result, it’s a seamless experience, one that has generated a lot of positive feedback.” 2022, including nearly 300 TAVR procedures. www.BusinessWomanPA.com
Heart Health 2023
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