NEWPORT — North Country Hospital’s Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory has been granted an additional three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic.
This latest accreditation awarded to North Country Hospital demonstrates the facility’s ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography.
Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed closely by stroke as the fourth highest cause of death.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease which amounts to about one person every 40 seconds.
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 of the 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 dedication to continuous improvement.
Accreditation by the IAC indicates that North Country Hospital’s Echocardiology Lab has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published standards. Comprised of a detailed self-examination followed by a review by a panel of medical experts, the IAC accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.
While this accreditation is not mandatory, North Country Hospital’s Echocardiology Lab has taken this to the next level under the direction of Andrew Torkelson, MD, Medical Director of Echocardiology, to exceed the standard and provide the best possible examinations for the community.
“I really enjoy the time I spend with my patients,” said Bev Gage, Technical Director of North Country Hospital’s Echo Lab. “And knowing that we are giving our patients the best possible exam right here in our community hospital makes me feel very good about my job.”
This is not a new accreditation for the Echo Lab. This is the sixth consecutive successful review and accreditation awarded by the IAC, continuing their commitment to the highest standards of care.
