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World-class care in Richmond

VCU Health cardiology and heart surgery programs rank among top 50 in the nation

U.S. News & World Report has recognized VCU Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in the Richmond metro area for the 10th year in a row, according to its recently released 2020-21 “Best Hospitals” rankings. VCU Medical Center ranks as the No. 2 hospital in Virginia and among the top 50 in the country for cardiology, heart surgery and urology.

Best Hospital Award

VCU Medical Center ranked No. 44 for cardiology and heart surgery out of more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide. The rankings are based on clinical data such as patient outcomes and a survey of physicians.

Specialty areas considered included transcatheter aortic valve replacement, aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and heart failure. “We’re excited that VCU Medical Center was rated ‘high performing’ in treating heart failure,” said Dr. Greg Hundley, Pauley’s director. “Our standing places us in elite company, while illustrating something we already know — that world-class care is right here in Richmond. We are treating some of our community’s most vulnerable, complex patients with compassionate, patient-centered care. For this reason, patients turn here when they need care the most.”

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was introduced as part of the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking methodology this year, highlighting the important role it and other minimally invasive procedures play in helping Pauley’s patients return to their normal lives as quickly as possible. TAVR is an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. The procedure involves inserting a new heart valve through a catheter in the groin, advancing the valve upward to the heart and implanting it there.

For other advanced procedures, such as heart transplants, the patient survival rate is 96.4%, which exceeds the national average of 91.3%. Pauley is a national leader in device-based treatments for advanced heart failure and is a center of excellence for comprehensive sarcoidosis treatment.


Learn more about Pauley’s expertise:

https://www.vcuhealth.org/pauley-heart-center/our-expertise

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