Augusta Health receives echocardiography accreditation

Early detection of life-threatening heart disorders is possible through the use of echocardiography procedures performed in hospitals and physicians’ offices.  The accuracy of the diagnosis based on Echocardiography testing is dependent on the skill of the sonographer performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and performance on quality assurance measures.

Augusta Health has earned a three-year accreditation in Echocardiography in the areas of Adult Transthoracic, Adult Transesophageal and Adult Stress by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Accreditation by the IAC means that Augusta Health has gone through a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts.  The IAC grants accreditation only to facilities that provide quality patient care in compliance with national standards, validated through a comprehensive review process that includes detailed case study review.  IAC accreditation is respected within the medical community, but for some facilities, accreditation is a voluntary process.  Patients can check the accreditation status of any facility by visiting www.intersocietal.org/ehco/main/patients.htm.

Augusta Health is an independent, nonprofit community hospital whose mission is to promote the health and well-being of our community through access to excellent care.  Named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in America by Thomson Reuters in both 2011 and 2012, Augusta Health has also been nationally recognized by HealthGrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for clinical excellence and patient safety for the last three consecutive years.  For more information about Augusta Health, its programs or its services, please contact public relations at 540.245.7329 or 540.221.7329, or visit our website, www.augustahealth.com.