Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI) is a nationally recognized leader in providing the latest cardiovascular care innovations, with exceptional patient outcomes. We consistently rank among the country's best hospitals and care providers for excellence, innovation, quality, and safety.
Awards for Excellence in Cardiovascular Care
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is the most trusted source for outcomes-based quality metrics related to the care of cardiac patients.
Proven Quality Program: Inova is recognized as one of the top health systems in the U.S. for providing top quality care to heart patients. Inova Heart and Vascular Institute is one of only 87 health systems nationwide to receive this designation.
NCDR ACTION Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award: Every year since 2014, Inova has earned the highest level of performance for the care of high-risk Chest Pain – Myocardial Infarction patients. In 2021 three Inova Hospitals – Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital, and Inova Loudoun Hospital – earned this distinction.
NCDR 4-Star Rating – ACC/NCDR Cath PCI Registry: Every year since 2014, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute has earned a 4-star rating, the highest level of performance on quality measures for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and percutaneous cardiac interventions.
Aetna Institutes of Quality® – Cardiac Care
Each year since 2018, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus has been accredited as an Aetna Institute of Quality Cardiac Care Facility for consistently delivering evidence based, quality care for cardiac medical intervention, cardiac rhythm care, and cardiac surgery.
The Aetna Institutes of Quality (IOQ) network was developed to help patients and their doctors simplify their provider selections. Their accreditation is based on the quality factors of experience, standards, support, and efficiency. Aetna IOQ facilities have been specifically selected for meeting (and surpassing) all of these criteria.
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab (AACVPR)
Inova Heart and Vascular Institute's comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Loudoun Hospital, and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital are certified for adherence to rigorous national standards and guidelines.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Beacon Award for Excellence
The Progressive Coronary Care Unit (PCCU) of Inova Fairfax Hospital has received the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).This award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards.
American Heart Association: Mission Lifeline recognition for outstanding performance in treating heart attacks

Gold Plus Receiving (STEMI) – for both Inova Fairfax and Inova Alexandria Hospitals
Gold NSTEMI – Inova Alexandria Hospital
Silver NSTEMI – Inova Loudoun Hospital
American Heart Association and Mitral Foundation
The 2022 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award recognizes the nation’s best hospitals and surgeons for mitral valve repair surgery based on objective performance measures.
Cardiovascular Operating Room Award
The Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) team in the Cardiovascular Operating Room at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute has earned the 2022 CNOR Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). This is the second year in a row that the team has earned this designation, which represents a commitment to perioperative excellence and outstanding patient care. Certification demonstrates that nurses have validated their mastery of perioperative practice. Research correlates certification with improved patient outcomes. The award is given to operating room departments that have achieved 50 percent or higher certification of eligible perioperative nursing staff; the IHVI CVOR team has achieved a 76 percent certification rate.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Certified Adult Heart and Adult Lung Transplant Programs
Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
Gold Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support: The Cardiac, Critical Care and Lung Services teams at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus have been designated a Gold Level Center of Excellence. This award recognizes the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality.
Healthgrades 2020
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus:
- America's 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™
- America's 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care™
- America's 100 Best Hospitals Award™
- Critical Care Excellence Award™
- Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™
- Outstanding Patient Experience Award™
- Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™
Inova Alexandria Hospital:
- America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™
- America's 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award™
- Patient Safety Excellence Award™
- Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital:
- America's 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award™
- Outstanding Patient Experience Award™
- Patient Safety Excellence Award™
Inova Loudoun Hospital:
- America's 250 Best Hospitals™
- Critical Care Excellence Award™
- Patient Safety Excellence Award™
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital:
- Outstanding Patient Experience Award™
Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC):
- Echocardiography (both Adult and Pediatric)
- Cardiac Electrophysiology – Testing and Ablation, Device Implantation, Chronic Lead Extraction
- Nuclear/PET – Nuclear cardiology: RMPI
- Vascular Testing – Peripheral Arterial Testing, Extracranial Cerebrovascular Testing; Peripheral Venous Testing
The Joint Commission: Certified Ventricular Assisted Device (VAD) Program
Inova Heart and Vascular Institute is the only hospital in the Northern Virginia area with a ventricular assisted device (VAD) program certified by The Joint Commission.
Society of Thoracic Surgeons: 3-Star Ratings
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) is a national leader in health care transparency and accountability showcasing the quality of surgical outcomes. Inova Heart and Vascular Institute has earned the top rating – 3 stars – in four out of five possible categories for patient care and outcomes in its cardiothoracic surgery program. Only 10-13 percent of all U.S. hospitals receive a three-star rating in any category. The three-star-ratings, which IHVI has received for multiple years, reflect avoidance of mobidity and mortality.
- Coronary Artery Bypass (CAB)
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Aortic Valve Replacement + CAB
- Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement + CAB
U.S. News & World Report (2021-2022)
#1 in both the Washington, DC Metro Region and all of Virginia.
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus - Ranked "High Performing" in:
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Cardiology
- Heart Attack
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Failure
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Inova Alexandria Hospital: Ranked "High Performing" in Heart Failure
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital: Ranked "High Performing" in Heart Failure
Inova Loudoun Hospital: Ranked "High Performing" in Heart Failure
The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) developed the TrueNorth Award to recognize those organizations that use certification as a "true north" to guide their perioperative nursing staff to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for excellence and patient safety.;