Accreditation by the IAC means that BWFH’s echo lab has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published Standards that demonstrate a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography. Comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough 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.
Special Testing Department Operations Manager and Chief Cardiac Sonographer Matthew Chartier-Petrelis, RDCS, spearheaded the application process, which he says requires a high level of documentation and review. “There were requirements and policies which needed to be created and implemented in our lab to meet the standards of the IAC,” he says. “During the application process, we were also required to submit several echocardiogram examinations and reports for review to ensure that they meet the high level of detail and quality that the IAC represents.”
For Chartier-Petrelis and rest of the staff who work hard each and every day to provide the highest level of patient care, earning accreditation speaks to their dedication. “For staff, being employed at an IAC accredited institution provides validation in knowing that the high-quality echocardiogram exams they perform are recognized and backed up by the IAC,” explains Chartier-Petrelis. “And for our patients, accreditation helps them feel even more confident about the testing and care they receive at our facility. Going through the accreditation process has a significant impact on the quality of exams being performed and leads to a more comprehensive echo report.”
