St. Mary’s Hospital continues its dedication to exceptional cardiac care and services with a pair of national accreditations.
The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) granted three-year national accreditation to the St. Mary’s Hospital Cardiology Services in two categories for vascular testing and adult echocardiography. The Vascular Lab received accreditation for Extracranial Ultrasound which is used to detect narrowing or plaque formation in the carotid arteries and is vital to patients when they are being diagnosed for stroke symptoms, such as weakness, changes in vision, and alterations in speech. This test is also used in patients who have unexplained fainting spells.
The Echocardiography Lab received accreditation for adult echocardiography, which is a non-invasive tool used to evaluate the size and function of the heart. An echocardiogram is vital to patients when they are being diagnosed for heart attack, heart failure and heart valve disorders, including stress.
“These national accreditations are ‘seals of approval’ by industry-leading experts in the field of cardiology and are the result of a terrific effort by our staff and physicians,” said St. Mary’s Hospital President Bruce Merrell. “They verify that we are not only providing quality care, but are providing state-of-the-art medical testing locally.”
The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission’s recognition of the St. Mary’s Cardiology services followed a comprehensive application process that included detailed case study review as well as verification of quality patient care.
“Accreditation by IAC is widely respected within the medical community,” said Naeem Khan, M.D., St. Mary’s Good Samaritan cardiologist. “We are proud to receive such accreditation.”
According to the IAC, cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 39 seconds of cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Stroke, a disorder of the blood supply to the brain, is the third-leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the country, with nearly 800,000 new strokes occurring annually. According to the American Heart Association, the total direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the U.S. for 2010 was an estimated $503.2 billion.