ATLANTA – Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital has been awarded the 2026 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award, recognized for the seventh consecutive year by the Mitral Foundation for its demonstrated excellence in mitral valve repair. Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital was the first hospital in the Southeast to receive this designation and to date is the only hospital in Georgia.
“We are very pleased to have received this designation for 7 consecutive years. Our Emory mitral valve team is focused on delivering the highest quality of care for our patients with mitral valve disorders and we look forward to being at the forefront of innovation and discovery,” says Michael Halkos, MD, chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory Healthcare.
The bar for excellence in mitral valve repair is very high, with mortality rates expected to be well below 1%, and repair rates for mitral valve prolapse expected to be >95%. The American Heart Association guidelines recommend repair even for asymptomatic patients if these results can be achieved in high volume reference centers. This requires team effort with a focus on high-performing teams with surgeons dedicated to mitral valve surgery.Mitral valve repair is one of the most challenging heart operations, but the results for patients with degenerative mitral valve disease can be outstanding, with improved survival, few complications, and excellent long-term results.
To receive this designation, hospitals must meet strict criteria, including a high volume of surgical procedures, consistent repair rates over 95% and surgical outcomes with less than 1% mortality for degenerative mitral valve disease. Emory Saint Joseph’s has had continued successes with mitral valve repair procedures, including:
• More than 99% repair rate for degenerative (prolapse) mitral valve disease.
• Mortality rate of less than 1%, with most years achieving 0%.
• Over 5,000 mitral valve surgeries performed across Emory Healthcare, with more than 4,000 robotic mitral valve repair surgeries performed at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
Since its inception, the award has been a beacon for patients seeking advanced care from specialists who are recognized for their expertise and commitment to superior clinical outcomes.
“Award recipients like Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital must meet rigorous outcomes criteria for repair rates, mortality and durability,” says David H. Adams, MD, professor and chair of cardiovascular surgery at Mount Sinai Health System and President of the Mitral Foundation. “Patients receiving care at a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award-winning facility can have confidence in their guideline-directed care.”
The recommended treatment for degenerative mitral valve disease is mitral valve reconstruction. Emory Healthcare has been at the forefront of robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, setting a standard of excellence in the field, and leading the nation with robotic cardiac surgical procedures. Over the past 20 years, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital remains the highest-volume center for mitral valve surgery in Georgia and is the only regional health care facility with a 3-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
