FirstHealth Receives Echocardiography Accreditation by IAC
| Date Posted: 6/14/2016
PINEHURST – Early detection of life threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of Echocardiography procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians' offices. While these tests are helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on Echocardiography testing. The skill of the Echocardiography sonographer performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing.
FirstHealth of the Carolinas’ four hospitals – Moore Regional, Montgomery Memorial, Moore Regional – Hoke Campus and Richmond Memorial – as well as FirstHealth Cardiology in Pinehurst, have been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic, Adult
Transesophageal by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Accreditation by the IAC means that the four FirstHealth hospitals have undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review.
IAC accreditation is a "seal of approval" that patients can rely on as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Echocardiography.
IAC accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of the national medical societies related to Echocardiography, which include physicians and sonographers. Echocardiography accreditation is required in some states and regions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and by some private insurers. However, patients should remain vigilant in making sure that their Echocardiography procedures are performed within accredited facilities, because for many facilities accreditation remains a voluntary process.
FirstHealth of the Carolinas is one of the premier medical systems in the Southeast. Comprised of four hospitals, primary and convenient care clinics, dental centers, home health, hospice & palliative care, fitness centers, a robust philanthropic Foundation, and the state-of-the-art Reid Heart Center, FirstHealth is a growing health care system and medical community. For more information visit www.firsthealth.org or call (800) 213-3284.
