Quality Awards and Recognition
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center continues to receive recognition for it's outstanding Cardiovascular Services.
Our List of "Firsts"
We were the first in the East Bay to perform the following breakthrough cardiovascular technologies:
2003 ASD & PFO Amplatzer Closure Devices used for Congenital Heart Disease
2003 Robotic Assisted Heart Surgery
2002 Laser Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease (TMR: Transmyocardial Revascularization)
2001 One of the first centers to offer surgery for Atrial Fibrillation: MAZE Procedure with Bipolar radiofrequency
2000 Ultrasound mapping of the radial arteries for coronary bypass surgery.
1999 First implant in the United States of a permanent pacing lead with an energy-efficient design that maximizes pacemaker battery life (Sweet Picotip Rx).
1998 First implant worldwide of an AICD lead which reduces the energy required to pace and defibrillate the heart (Endotak Picotip).
1997 Use of ACS Multi-link stent. Now the most widely used in the world.
1996 Minimally invasive coronary bypass procedure (keyhole surgery).
1996 Minimally invasive vein harvesting. Summit was the 2nd center in the U.S. and the 1st on the West Coast.
1996 First U.S. implant of a permanent pacemaker lead which maintains a low threshold to conserve energy (Sweet tip Rx).
1993 Coronary bypass performed without the use of a bypass machine: Beating Heart Surgery
1993 Rotablator System used to actually remove plaque from inside coronary arteries.
1991 Excimer laser system for treatment of blocked heart arteries.
1991 Radiofrequency ablation therapy to correct abnormal heart rhythms.
1986 Automatic Implantable Cardio Defibrillator (AICD) to prevent lethal irregular heartbeats.
1986 Used directional atherectomy to remove plaque from coronary arteries and bypass grafts.
1986 Balloon repair to heart valves.
1982 Introduced electrophysiology studies to assess treatment for irregular heartbeats, an important step leading to the development of the Automatic Implantable Defibrillator.
1982 Balloon angioplasty, an alternative to open-heart surgery to blocked arteries.
1979 West Coast’s first peripheral angioplasty using a balloon-tipped catheter to reopen, without surgery, the blood supply to the legs.
1970 Coronary bypass surgery.
1961 Open heart surgery to repair heart defects.
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Team Accomplishments
Our cardiologists and cardiac surgeons are nationally recognized leaders for these and other accomplishments:
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program: Developed services for adults born with heart problems.
- Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Established the Bay Area’s first cardiac rehab program at the YMCA in 1971; the on-site program started in 1983.
- Open Heart Surgery: We performed the East Bay’s first adult open-heart procedure in 1961.
- TIMI IV (Therapeutic Infusion of Myocardial Infarction): One of first centers in nation to conduct studies/research on clot dissolving drugs.
- Harvard Medical School Research: The Alta Bates Campus was one of only four national sites selected to do research in conjunction with Harvard Medical School.
- Vascular Stent: The Summit campus was the first East Bay medical center to use the newly developed vascular stent in 1991.
- Beating Heart Surgery: Performed the first Coronary Bypass Surgery without the use of a heart-lung bypass machine.
- Minimally Invasive Vein Harvesting: First center on the West Coast and second in the U.S. to perform this procedure in 1996.
- Electrophysiology: Introduced EP studies in 1982 to access treatment for irregular heartbeats, an important step leading to the development of the AICD.
- AICD: First worldwide implant of an AICD lead, which reduces the energy required to pace and defibrillate the heart.
To get specific information about each of our doctors, go to our Physician Search Tool.
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Awards of Distinction
| CARDIOVASCULAR Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care – 2009 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Get With the Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease Gold Sustained Performance Award – 2009 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure Silver Sustained Performance Award – 2009 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company – 2008 American Heart Association Award for High Reliability in Heart Failure Care VHA, Inc. Cardiac Receiving Center Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency Stemi Receiving Center for Contra Costa County Better than Expected Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Pacific Business Group STROKE Primary Stroke Center Certification The Joint Commission Get With the Guidelines Stroke Silver Performance Award – 2007 Gold Performance Award – 2008 Gold Sustained Performance Award – 2009 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Five-Star Rated for the Treatment of Stroke – 2005 to 2009 HealthGrades  Ranked Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Treatment of Stroke – 2008 HealthGrades Specialty Excellence Award™ for Stroke Care – 2007/2008 HealthGrades Freddie Award International Health and Medical Media Awards |
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