HSHS hospitals earn echocardiography accreditation

HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals echocardiography labs have both been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in the area of adult transthoracic echocardiography. This marks the first time both hospitals’ echocardiography labs have been accredited.

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of a person’s heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious cardiovascular conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, followed closely by stroke as the fifth highest cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography. “IAC accreditation is the seal of approval that our patients can rely on as an indicator of the consistent quality care we offer at both of our hospitals and our dedication to continuous improvement,” said Nancy Demars, director of cardiopulmonary services at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals.