Baptist Health Care continues to raise the bar in cardiovascular innovation and patient outcomes, now offering a groundbreaking treatment for tricuspid regurgitation while also being named one of the nation's 15 Top Health Systems by Premier, Inc.

According to a news release, earlier this month Baptist Hospital performed its first TriClip procedure, a minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve the symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation, or TR. The condition, often overlooked, causes swelling, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and reduced physical function. The tricuspid valve has long been dubbed the "forgotten valve," overshadowed by the aortic and mitral valves in both research and treatment due to its perceived secondary role in heart disease.

TriClip offers patients a less invasive option with shorter recovery times and rapid symptom relief. Most individuals can resume normal activity after about a week, avoiding only strenuous exertion during initial recovery.

"Baptist is the trusted leader in structural heart interventions, having performed more than 2,000 structural heart procedures," said Luther Carter, interventional cardiologist. "Our experienced heart and vascular team has an unwavering commitment to excellence and an established legacy of pioneering innovative procedures in the Northwest Florida region."

The new therapy adds to Baptist's robust cardiovascular program, which brings together advanced technology, clinical expertise and a multidisciplinary approach focused on improving quality of life.

The hospital system's commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care was reinforced this week with its selection as one of Premier's 15 Top Health Systems. The recognition, based on a 17-year national study, ranks health systems across four pillars: clinical outcomes, extended outcomes, operational outcomes and patient experience.

Baptist is the only health system in the Northwest Florida region to receive the designation.

"We are proud of this achievement that recognizes our team's unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of care. Our more than 4,500 team members serve in various roles across our system, including Baptist, Gulf Breeze and Jay Hospitals, as well as each of our medical parks and clinics throughout the region," said Mark Faulkner, president and CEO of Baptist Health Care. "As the area's only locally based, not-for-profit health system, we are honored to receive this award for the excellent care our team delivers in Northwest Florida."

Premier's analysis showed top-performing systems like Baptist deliver better patient experiences, reflected in high Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. The organization credits Baptist's strong performance to its patient-centered strategies and reduced rates of readmissions and complications.

"Achieving Premier's 15 Top Health Systems designation is an honor and shows a health system's commitment to improving enterprise operations, quality, and patient-centered care," said David Zito, Premier's president of performance services. "As one of the 15 Top Health Systems, Baptist Health Care has achieved high-quality healthcare with the execution of innovative strategies that have directly impacted patient outcomes, with fewer readmissions and complications."

For more information on Baptist's heart and vascular care, visit www.ebaptisthealthcare.org/heart.