Holston Valley selected as the only U.S. hospital to transmit live cases to largest international vascular conference

Holston Valley Medical Center is further cementing its status as a staple on the international vascular stage, as this year’s Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC) once again put the hospital front and center.

Holston Valley was the only United States hospital selected as a demonstration site for this year’s conference. Dr. Chris Metzger, medical director of Holston Valley’s diagnostic catheterization and interventional labs, transmitted a vascular case live – with full patient consent – from the cath lab at Holston Valley to Leipzig, Germany, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, for audiences around the world.

LINC, an interdisciplinary live course for physicians, connects colleagues from different specialties on a global stage to facilitate fresh discussion of vascular patients. Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this year’s conference will be conducted virtually, with physicians and cardiovascular providers tuning in from all over the world.

“LINC presents an incredible opportunity for some of the best and brightest minds in the world to come together and share our expertise,” said Dr. Metzger. “It’s always a privilege to participate in LINC, while also showcasing the world-class cardiovascular care we offer right here in the Appalachian Highlands.”

Dr. Metzger’s expertise is in such high demand for medical conferences, a camera was installed in his cath lab to accommodate his regular demonstrations for national and international medical conferences such as VIVA New Cardiovascular Horizons, International Symposium of Endovascular Therapy, AMP and Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) and Interventional Advances.

“Holston Valley is extremely proud to offer some of the best cardiovascular care in the world,” said Lindy White, president of Holston Valley and CEO of Ballad Health’s Northwest Market. “Dr. Metzger’s work puts our communities first in line for leading-edge cardiovascular treatment, and his leadership advances the quality of care for cardiovascular patients across the country.

“When you have physicians from all over the world fixing their eyes on one hospital, you know you’re doing something right.”
Dr. Metzger and his colleagues at Holston Valley have also led the hospital to earn recognition through dozens of accolades and honors in the past decade. Despite facing a global pandemic, Holston Valley earned several recognitions in 2020, including a nod from the American Heart Association through the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award.

“These accolades build upon Holston Valley’s enduring legacy as a pillar of quality cardiovascular care, pushing the envelope every day to advance cardiovascular care around the world,” White said.

Holston Valley’s cardiology programs also earned a spot from U.S. News and World Report for High-Performing Hospitals thanks to outstanding performance in Transcatheter Aeortic Valve Replacement, heart failure treatment and abdominal aneurysm reporting. BlueCross BlueShield also applauded Holston Valley’s quality cardiovascular care with a Blue Distinction Center+ Designation.

Additionally, Holston Valley was one of 140 hospitals in the nation to receive the 2020 Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, a distinction from the American College of Cardiology.

“At the end of the day, what matters most is that we make a difference in our patients' lives,” Dr. Metzger said. “These accolades signify what we already know about our team at Holston Valley – that we’re passionate, hardworking and dedicated to the health of our community. I’m proud of our team, and I love sharing our accomplishments with the world.”

Read more about LINC.