The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that social determinants of health – such as race, finances, housing, and employment – can lead to disparities in health outcomes.

The Nursing Communication HCAHPS performance domain is a key measure of delivering excellent care and achieving high levels of patient satisfaction. Congratulations to the units listed below on earning Level 5 in Nursing Communication during the past quarter! Your hard work and dedication directly contributed to the highest levels of satisfaction among UAB Medicine patients and visitors.

Atrial fibrillation (AF, or “A-Fib”) is the most common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Often mistaken for normal heart palpitations or written off as the result of aging, AF usually increases in duration and severity over time if untreated. AF affects 2 million Americans and is responsible for one in four strokes among people over 80.

UAB Hospital was again named the best hospital in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report. Eight adult specialties are ranked among the best in the nation. The magazine also notes UAB Hospital as “high-performing” in 16 of 20 assessed adult procedures/conditions in the 2022-2023 Best Hospital rankings, released today.

Nearly 32 years ago, Jeana Nesmith Russell was beginning her dream career as a nurse in one of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s hospital units while pursuing her graduate degree. Little did she know that her life was about to change forever.

Last month, a structural heart team composed of interventional cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute completed the first valve-in-valve procedure using the Evolut™ FX TAVR system, a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement system.

Medical experts know that certain risk factors play important roles in a person’s chances of developing heart disease. They also understand that the risk for heart disease tends to run in families. By looking at your health history family tree, you can learn which risk factors you may have inherited and use this information to make lifestyle choices for maintaining a healthier heart.

Medical experts say it’s easier to maintain a heart-healthy diet when you cook at home. Surveys show that people tend to do more cooking at home during summer and early fall, because they grill out more often during those seasons. Experts don’t always agree on which grilled foods are the healthiest, but following the basic guidelines below can help you make grilling season a heart-healthy and delicious dining experience.

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) is proud to be consistently recognized as one of the top programs in the country. Learn more about our most recent national and regional honors listed below.

The UAB Sports Medicine Cardiology Clinic helps young athletes with heart (cardiac) problems return to the playing field quickly and safely—including patients affected by COVID-19. Located at UAB Hospital-Highlands, the highly specialized clinic focuses on young athletes who need cardiac care along with sports medicine treatment. Because COVID-19 can sometimes lead to serious heart conditions, we recommend a medical evaluation for all young athletes who have had COVID-19 with symptoms.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Cardiovascular Institute has been awarded the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ventricular Assist Device Destination Therapy program for the seventh time. Ventricular assist devices, or VADs, are implanted mechanical pumps that support heart function and blood flow in patients who have weakened hearts.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s cardio-oncology program has received GOLD status — the highest designation of certification from the International Cardio-Oncology Society.