Beacon of innovation: structural heart program

UC Davis Health’s structural heart program has earned numerous achievements in the past several months, from strides in clinical growth and financial performance to heightened regional and national visibility.

On Nov. 8, the Northern California Structural Heart Summit – hosted by the UC Davis Health Heart and Vascular Center – brought together leading interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, APPs, nurses, and allied professionals from across the region. A UC Davis Health team performed two live cases during the summit, broadcasting live from the catheterization laboratory. 

One case involved a very complex tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair; the other was an aortic valve-in-valve replacement that required laceration of the coronary cusps to avoid coronary occlusion. The second annual Northern California Structural Heart Summit represented another milestone in UC Davis Health’s regional engagement and education on this subject, reflected in record registration numbers and in-person capacity reached months in advance.

Also, the team recently performed a live case broadcast to Beijing, China, for China Structural Heart 2025, featuring a transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER), a procedure uniquely offered at UC Davis Health.

On other fronts, the structural heart program has been working to improve access, enhance the patient/referring experience, improve quality, and coordinate service lines across multiple departments and units. The goal is to expand rapidly while maintaining excellent outcomes in the context of an increasingly complex patient population. Highlights include:

Increased case volumes

• Steady growth across all structural programs, with rising internal referrals from the network and streamlined external referrals through a more efficient intake workflow.
• Non-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (also called TAVR) cases now achieve same-day discharge in the vast majority of patients. The low-risk TAVR pathway continues to improve efficiency and throughput with strong APP and anesthesia support.

Rising financial performance

• The program continues to be highly profitable, with strong reimbursement and manufacturer rebates.
• Example: Each transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) generates approximately $80,000 per case.
• The Watchman program alone performed 63 cases from June through August of this year.

Expanded visibility

• The Structural Heart Health Program has expanded its digital footprint and elevated UC Davis Health’s visibility in the structural heart space.
• Its recently launched LinkedIn page has showcased innovative procedures, unique cases, and ongoing research efforts.
• In just one month, the LinkedIn page gathered 690 followers (72% above expected growth), 27,786 impressions (nearly six times above average), and 1,298 engagements. Visitors include regional and national physicians, patients, and industry representatives.
• The unit is revamping its structural heart website and developing a YouTube channel to feature educational case videos and training content that highlight the program’s leadership in complex, cutting-edge procedures.

All of these combined efforts – expanded clinical volumes, improved financial performance, and an elevated national presence – are positioning UC Davis Health as a premier regional and national leader in structural heart innovation, education, and patient care.