Heart & VascularAccomplishments

Our Leading Cardiovascular Care

For over 50 years, we’ve helped to develop the heart and vascular care that has become today’s standard of treatment. As a result, you can be confident that you are receiving the most advanced care from experts in treating heart, vein, chest and lung conditions.

Our doctors have developed a number of firsts, including:

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): We have the largest and most experienced Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program in Wisconsin. We’ve helped nearly 1,000 people who are unable to have surgical heart valve replacement, and 100% of our TAVR procedures have been successful. Read more about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
• 4-D ultrasound: We’re the first health care system in the world to use new 4-D cardiovascular ultrasound technology from GE Healthcare, helping to see the heart like never before. Learn more about heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.
• Leadless pacemaker: We are the first in Wisconsin to implant a minimally invasive leadless pacemaker, offering faster recovery time for patients. Find out more about cardiac electrophysiology.
• Heart transplant leaders: We completed Wisconsin’s first heart transplant in 1968 – just one year after the first heart transplant in the world. We’ve completed almost 900 transplants, more than any other health care system in the state. Read more about heart transplant.
• Ventricular assist devices (VADs): We’re a leader in ventricular assist devices (VADs) for people with advanced heart failure. We’ve implanted nearly 800 VADs since 1986. Find out about our VAD program.
• Hybrid ablation for AFib: We’re the first health care provider in Wisconsin to pioneer the hybrid ablation technique to treat patients with atrial fibrillation. We also provided the first atrial defibrillator implant in the U.S., the first catheter ablation in Wisconsin and the first epicardial catheter ablation of AFib in America. Learn more about hybrid ablation surgery.
• Radial Artery Heart Catheterizations: Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay is a leading performer in radial artery heart catheterizations. Their radial access diagnostic cath with our without intervention rate is 74%. In comparison, the national average is 38%. Radial artery heart cath has been associated with less bleeding, fewer complications and lower costs.
• TEVAR and EVAR: Aurora BayCare Medical Center is a leader in TEVAR and EVAR cases for minimally invasive aneurysm repair.

Learn more about our cardiovascular services and treatments.

Our Nationally Recognized Heart & Vascular Care

We are dedicated to providing outstanding care for those we treat. National organizations have recognized this caring and commitment, including:

• U.S. News & World Report: U.S. News & World Report ranks Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center among the top hospitals in Wisconsin. We’re also the only hospital in Wisconsin to be nationally ranked in cardiac and stroke care.
• American Heart/Stroke Association: The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have recognized our performance in treating people for cardiac care and stroke with the Gold Plus quality award.
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) 3-Star Rating: We’re one of the few hospitals in the nation to receive a 3-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).
• Truven Health Top 100: Truven Health named Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc and Aurora Baycare Medical Center among its top 100 hospitals.
• Nursing Care Magnet Designation: Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center received its fourth consecutive Magnet^® designation, the highest honor for nursing care by the American Nursing Credentialing Center.

Learn more about our world-class care.