LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The echocardiography laboratories at UofL Health – UofL Hospital and UofL Health – Heart Hospital, a part of Jewish Hospital, have been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the areas of adult stress, adult transesophageal and adult transthoracic. This honor marks 25 years of accreditation for the echo lab at UofL Hospital and demonstrates the facility’s ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography.
“The members of the UofL Hospital echocardiography laboratory are greatly honored to be acknowledged by the IAC for 25 years of accreditation and we’re pleased that the lab at the Heart Hospital has likewise been accredited,” Dr. Marcus Stoddard, a UofL Physicians cardiologist and medical director of both UofL Hospital and Jewish Hospital echo labs, said. “The IAC has played a pivotal role in the improvement and advancement of echocardiography nationwide. It is my pleasure to acknowledge the esteemed staff who have made this possible – our sonographers, nurses, technicians, assistants and echocardiographers.”
Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of signs conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethic groups in the United States. On average, one American dies every 34 seconds of cardiovascular disease.
There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography. The training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure, all contribute to a positive patient outcome.
IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement. Accreditation by the IAC means the lab has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published standards thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography.
“This organization has had the foresight to recognize and promote the critical role of accreditation for the excellent conduct of echocardiography in the clinical application and treatment of patients, “ Dr. Stoddard said. “We will continue to strive for accreditation and look forward to the ongoing guidance from the IAC for the maintenance of excellence in echocardiography.”
About IAC
The IAC is a nonprofit organization in operation to evaluate and accredit facilities that provide diagnostic imaging and interventional-based procedures, thus improving the quality of patient care provided in private offices, clinics and hospitals where such services are performed. The IAC provides accreditation programs for vascular testing, echocardiography, nuclear/PET, MRI, diagnostic CT, dental CT, carotid stenting, vein treatment and management, vascular interventional, cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular catheterization. The IAC programs for accreditation are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting health care and all support one common mission: Improving health care through accreditation®. Committed to its mission through a rigorous peer review process, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites since its inception in 1991. To learn more, visit intersocietal.org.
