Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Wisconsin Hosts One of Nation’s Largest TAVR Training Sessions

Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recently hosted one of the largest transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) training sessions for cardiovascular specialists in the United States. Sponsored by Medtronic, the training targeted cardiac physicians starting new TAVR programs around the country. Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center was a part of the FDA trial program for the Medtronic CoreValve System in 2011, and today is an internationally recognized TAVR program, with large patient volumes, proven quality clinical outcomes, and financial profitability. 

The session was held in the interventional cardiology hybrid operating rooms at Aurora St. Luke’s on Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19. It featured more than 20 physicians and teams from 10 states who were able to watch two live TAVR cases, led by Dr. Daniel O’Hair, a cardiovascular surgeon, and Dr. Tanvir Bajwa, an interventional cardiologist.

Training goals focused on not only educating physicians on the fundamentals of TAVR implantation, but also on strategies to grow quality structural heart programs with favorable patient and financial outcomes. 

New TAVR programs can face financial challenges in adopting this new technology, yet the Aurora team has proven that financial viability can be achieved with a responsible approach to patient selection, and efficiencies with scheduling and patient care. These lessons are invaluable to new centers. 

“To be able to host physicians from around the country and showcase the work of our TAVR team here in Milwaukee is a true honor,” said Dr. O’Hair. “We have focused on improving patient outcomes, and our hope is attendees can take home what they’ve learned and begin to implement programs to help people suffering from heart issues like aortic stenosis.” 

Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin-area health care provider, offering services at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Aurora serves more than 1.2 million patients every year via a comprehensive network of facilities, services and providers, including 15 hospitals, more than 150 clinics, 70 pharmacies, and 30,000 amazing caregivers. As evidenced by more than 400 active clinical trials, Aurora is dedicated to delivering innovations to provide the best possible care to patients. 

Check out the Cath Lab Digest online interview with surgeon Daniel O’Hair, MD:

November 2014

The Structural Heart Program at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center

https://www.cathlabdigest.com/article/Structural-Heart-Program-Aurora-St-Luke%E2%80%99s-Medical-Center