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Heart Failure in the Heartland, 10/12/18

The last couple weeks provided a wealth of proof that University of Iowa Health Care is the leading provider of cardiac care in the state and region. First came the story that Iowa continues to lead in repair of leaky valves with its use of the new MitraClip. One of our interventional cardiologists, Dr. Sidakal Panaich, was one of the providers interviewed for a story about the collaboration with thoracic surgeons to implant these devices without traditional surgery. The team has already installed this most recent version of the MitraClip five times since its federal approval last summer.

This news was quickly followed by the results of the Joint Commission’s evaluation of the UI’s Heart and Vascular Center (HVC) ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy program. The HVC's program earned their Gold Seal of Approval, a certification that indicates compliance with national standards for high-quality care and safety. And on a more local level, the HVC’s medical director, Dr. Phillip Horwitz, received the Excellence in Our Workplace Award, a 2018 University of Iowa Physicians Clinical Awards, for his leadership of the center.

View the complete story and photos here.