St. Joseph’s Medical Center Completes Milestone of 500th Minimally Invasive TAVR Procedure

(STOCKTON, CA) December 18, 2023 – Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center (SJMC) has reached the milestone of completing 500 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures, led by Dr. Richard Waters, TAVR team cardiologist.

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that focuses on replacing a thickened aortic valve that has difficulties fully opening, due to either aortic valve stenosis or aortic valve regurgitation, both of which cause reduced blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

"We are pleased to be able to provide this effective and less invasive aortic valve replacement option to members of our community and offer an advanced level of cardiac care close to home,” said Dr. Richard Waters.

Individuals at risk for requiring a TAVR procedure include those with other health conditions, such as lung or kidney disease, high blood pressure, infections or injury to the heart, and those with congenital heart disease. Symptoms include but are not limited to heart murmur, chest pain, fainting and dizziness, and shortness of breath. The minimally invasive TAVR procedure has many benefits, such as closed valve replacements and minimal recovery time, in addition to being an option for many individuals who do not qualify for open surgery.

St. Joseph's Cardiovascular Surgery Program has been ranked by Society of Thoracic Surgeons as the highest category for quality and successful outcomes in both coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) procedures. For more information on SJMC’s Morrissey Family Heart & Vascular Institute, please visit here, and to check your risk of heart disease, please visit here. For interview opportunities with Dr. Waters, contact Kellie Ryan at [email protected].

###

About St. Joseph’s Medical Center 

Dignity Health St. Joseph's Medical Center is a not-for-profit, fully accredited, regional hospital with 355 beds, a physician staff of over 700, and more than 2,700 employees. Specializing in cardiovascular care, comprehensive cancer services, and women and children's services, St. Joseph's is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. As a Sponsoring Institution for Graduate Medical Education, St. Joseph’s supports rapidly growing educational programs for both resident physicians and medical students. In addition to being nationally recognized as a quality leader, St. Joseph's is consistently chosen as the "most preferred hospital" by local consumers. St. Joseph's is the largest hospital, as well as one of the largest private employers in San Joaquin County. Founded in 1899 by Fr. William O'Connor and administered by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, St. Joseph's continues to lead the region in medical innovation. St. Joseph's Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health/CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit Catholic health system with care sites across 21 states dedicated to advancing health for all people. For more information, please visit DignityHealth.org/Stockton.