Allegheny General Hospital Receives Recognition as a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center from the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation

July 24, 2023 — Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), the flagship academic medical center of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), announced today it has once again received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Mitral Foundation for a demonstrated record of superior clinical outcomes resulting from evidence-based, guideline-directed degenerative mitral valve repair. 

This is the third consecutive year AGH and its AHN Cardiovascular Institute team have been recognized as a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center since the recognition was established in 2019, placing AHN’s program among the most elite nationwide. To date, only 21 facilities have earned this award across the country and AGH remains the only hospital to receive this recognition in Pennsylvania. 

“This award recognizes the commitment of our clinicians and caregivers who provide the highest levels of care to our patients, year after year,” said Walter E. McGregor, MD, lead surgeon of the AHN mitral valve program and director of AHN cardiac surgery at AHN Cardiovascular Institute. “On behalf of the entire Network, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to their tireless work that upholds the AHN Cardiovascular Institute’s longstanding legacy of clinical excellence.” 

The mitral valve is in the left side of the heart and works to keep blood flowing properly in one direction from the left atrium to the left ventricle. When the valve doesn’t work correctly, allowing blood to flow backward, the heart can’t pump enough oxygenated blood for the body. Symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation often include fatigue and shortness of breath. 

Mitral valve repair is considered the gold-standard therapy for degenerative mitral valves and is generally preferred over mitral valve replacement since valve repair is associated with improved survival and fewer long-term complications. Valve replacement with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve typically has higher five-to-ten-year complication rates compared to repair. 

“We are pleased to recognize Allegheny General Hospital for their commitment to patients who need mitral valve repair,” 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 that patients and their referring physicians must make to ensure best outcomes. 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 when mitral valve surgery is required.” 

The Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award was developed to identify, recognize and promote the nation’s recognized medical centers for mitral valve repair surgery. AGH earned the award for 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. 

“This such a meaningful designation as it is contingent on superb outcomes -- 95% repair rate and less than 1% mortality -- in a high volume of patients and verified by the AHA,” said Stephen Bailey, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon and Chair of AHN Cardiovascular Institute. “We’re incredibly proud of today’s recognition as it further establishes our program as a nationally recognized leader in managing and treating complex cardiovascular disease.” 

For more information: www.ahn.org