March 15, 2010
Accredited Echocardiography Laboratory
From left, Gloria Burris, RCS, sonographer, Madye Dellegrotti, RN, nurse manager of HEARTS cardiac rehab, and Robert Davis, DO, cardiologist, are seen here with the echo lab’s certificate of accreditation.
The echocardiography laboratory at Bloomsburg Hospital was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). The laboratory was recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provision of quality diagnostic testing.
Cardiovascular disease, which describes disorders of the heart and blood vessels, is the leading cause of death in the United States. Echocardiographic testing provides useful cardiac structure and flow information for the detection and management of many types of heart disease. This noninvasive test has become one of the standard diagnostic tools in cardiology. Echocardiography is a complex imaging technique that relies on the experience and training of both the physician and sonographer. Their interpretive and technical abilities determine the diagnostic accuracy of an echocardiographic examination. The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) developed an accreditation program that evaluates the quality of these and other critical elements of an echocardiography laboratory.
Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary. Accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency which recognizes the laboratory's commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease.