Call to Action: Join the Aortic Dissection Triage Taskforce
- Sherri White
- Aug 20
- 1 min read
Aortic dissection is rapidly becoming one of the most common reasons for emergent cardiac surgery. Yet, too often, patients face delays in transfers and acceptance that can mean the difference between life and death.
During our recent VCSQI meeting, Dr. Chiwon Hahn (HCA Richmond, former VCSQI Board Member) emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated approach:
Unnecessary delays: Referring physicians struggle to find facilities willing to accept dissection patients, putting lives at risk.
Declines based on risk factors: Chronic dialysis, bed shortages, and program specialization have led to refusals, despite EMTALA requiring acceptance.
Critical misconception: Patients with acute dissections do not need a bed immediately—they need to go straight to the OR.
These challenges highlight the pressing need for collaboration across facilities.
The Taskforce Mission
The Aortic Dissection Triage Taskforce will bring together physicians, surgeons, administrators, and quality leaders to:
Develop a standardized regional response for dissection patients.
Ensure all cardiac surgery programs provide timely acceptance and care.
Address systemic barriers like bed shortages and resource variation.
Share best practices to improve survival rates for these high-risk procedures.
How You Can Help
We are calling on our members and partners to join this effort. Your expertise and engagement will shape practical solutions and set new standards for timely, lifesaving care.
👉 Interested in joining?
Together, we can ensure that no patient with an aortic dissection is left waiting.
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