Awards & Accolades

American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines” – Sliver Performance Achievement Award

Magnet Award for “Excellence in Nursing Services” from the American Nurses Credentialing Center

Texas Health Care Quality Improvement Award of Excellence

Blue Distinction Center(SM) for Cardiac Care awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

2007 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence in acute myocardial infarction treatment, heart failure and surgical infection prevention.

Excellence in Governance 2003-2006 awarded by the Texas Academy of Governance

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Date Accredited: 2005-2008

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certification
Date Accredited: 2006-2009

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) Certification
Date Accredited: 2004-2007

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) Certification
Date Accredited: 2005-2008

First in Heart and Vascular Care in North Texas

At Baylor, we've always been at the forefront of innovative, quality heart care. Our dedication to your heart health shines through:

1954: Vascular surgery program begins
1962: Start of the cardiac catheterization program
1965: Non-invasive vasculary laboratory opens
1968: Birth of Baylor's open-heart surgery program
1975: Start of interventional radiology program

In addition to opening the first heart-specialty hospital in North Texas, Baylor has paved the way in heart and vascular care with breakthrough techniques. Just look at these North Texas firsts from the Vascular and Interventional Radiology department at Baylor:

  • First coronary balloon angioplasty
  • First vascular balloon angioplasty
  • First abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery
  • First carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention
  • First arterial stent
  • First vascular venous stent
  • First implantable defibrillator
  • First coronary atherectomy
  • First combined heart-lung and heart transplantation Domino in Texas
  • First combined heart/kidney transplant in North Texas and fifth in the world
  • First implant of St. Jude stentless valve in the United States after FDA approval
  • First Gamma Radiation seed implant for coronary stent restenosis
  • First percutaneous transmyocardial revascularization
  • First Medicare-certified cardiac rehabilitation program
  • First modular aortic endovascular stent graft
  • First biventricular pacemaker defibrillator for heart failure
  • First three-dimensional computer mapping system for arrhythmia diagnosis and management
  • First non-surgical vascular bypass (transjugular intrahepatic portosystematic shunt)
  • First atherectomy
  • First arotid stent
  • First arterial catheterization
  • First modular aortic stent graft

Certifications and Accreditations


Joint Commission Accreditation 2005-2008

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certification 2006-2009

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) Accreditation 2004-2007

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) Accreditation 2005-2008

Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital