Performed by interventional cardiologist Dr. Charles Jackson, the minimally invasive procedure treats mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly and allows blood to flow backward into the lungs. The MitraClip is inserted through the groin and helps the valve close more tightly, often reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.

“For many patients, surgery simply isn’t an option,” Jackson said. “This procedure allows us to help people who previously had very limited treatment choices.”

The program began in 2019 and now averages three procedures per month, serving patients from across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama through AdventHealth cardiology offices in Dalton, Chatsworth, Calhoun, Trion, and Cedartown.

AdventHealth Redmond is the only hospital in Northwest Georgia offering the MitraClip procedure, allowing patients to receive advanced heart care without traveling to Atlanta or Birmingham.

“This milestone reflects our commitment to bringing world-class heart care close to home,” said Riley Benter, director of Heart, Lung and Vascular Services for the AdventHealth Georgia Market.

Dr. Jackson credited the program’s success to a team-based approach, adding that “every clip represents a life changed.”