Awards and Recognition for Inova Heart and Vascular Institute

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 Fairfax Hospital has earned Platinum Performance, which recognizes the highest level of care for high-risk Chest Pain – Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) patients.

Since 2021, two additional Inova hospitals – Inova Alexandria Hospital and Inova Loudoun Hospital – have also earned the American College of Cardiology's MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award.

This program recognizes hospitals participating in the registry who have demonstrated sustained, top level performance in quality of care and adherence to guideline recommendations.

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 once again received the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), for a 3-year designation. This award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards.

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.

Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC):

Echocardiography (Adult and Pediatric)

Special recognition goes to the Inova Cardiac Diagnostic Services - Fairfax located at the Inova Specialty Center for maintaining its IAC accreditation for 20 consecutive years.

• 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 morbidity and mortality. 

• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
• Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR)
• AVR+CABG combined

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.;