Moon Township, PA, (July 20, 2012) – 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. The American Heart Association estimates that the direct and indirect cost for cardiovascular disease in the U.S. for 2010 was $503.2 billion.

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.

The Heritage Valley Heart & Vascular Center Echocardiography Laboratories at the Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley campuses recently received a three-year term of accreditation in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic and Adult Thransesophageal by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

Accreditation by the IAC means that Heritage Valley’s Echocardiography Laboratories have undergone thorough reviews of their 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. When scheduled for an Echocardiography procedure, patients are encouraged to inquire as to the accreditation status of the facility where their examination will be performed and can learn more by visiting www.intersocietal.org/echo/main/patients.htm.

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.

“We are proud to once again achieve accreditation for our Echo Labs,” said Kathy Harley, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Surgical Services and Cardiology at Heritage Valley Health System. “Health care organizations are held to very high levels of accountability, by peers and by the general public. In numerous states, reimbursement directives that require accreditation of the laboratory have been instituted by Medicare carriers as well as private, third-party insurers. The general public and members of the Echocardiography community recognize an unmatched commitment to providing quality health care by laboratories that achieve IAC Echocardiography.”