Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has provided relief to thousands of Americans who suffer from leaky heart valves and are too frail to undergo open-heart surgery. But policy and business considerations behind TAVR has large and small hospitals fighting over who will perform the procedures.
Smaller hospitals believe the patients should have wider access to the procedure, reports WBUR, Boston's NPR station. Larger hospitals essentially view this as smaller institutions impeding on their territory and taking profits from subsequent cardiac procedures that TAVR patients may need. They add that hospitals who don’t have substantial procedure volume wouldn’t be able to provide high quality care.
Is patient care being compromised because of money?
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As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.