One American dies every 32 seconds of cardiovascular disease, and disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing society over $83.7 billion each year in health services, medications and lost work time due to disability.
North Country Hospital is playing an important role in combating this often silent killer. For the fourth consecutive time the hospital’s Radiology-Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory has been granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of the Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL).
“You and your staff are to be commended for demonstrating your laboratory’s pursuit of excellence in the field of echocardiography,” Beverly L. Gorman, RDCS, said. Gorman is the ICAEL Technical Manager.
“We are the only hospital in the state to have this certification,” Bev Gage RCS, RDCS said proudly. “The credit really goes to Pauline Labor RT, RDMS, RDCS, who first obtained the accreditation in 2001. She retired from Echo in 2009, and continues to work in general ultrasound and bone density. Bev, who is a registered cardiac sonographer, is the technical director of the lab. She is assisted by Lou Ann Laffoon, RDCS.
“Congratulations go to Bev for her hard work in securing another three year accreditation of our Echocardiology Department,” Brian Bidwell CRA, ARRT said. “Not many hospitals in Vermont can boast of this.” Brian is the Director of Diagnostic Imaging Services.
“They do an unbelievable job,” Dr. Andrew Torkelson added. “Getting this award isn’t easy and it is a real honor.” A cardiologist, who is on staff at Dartmouth Hitchcock, has been a visiting physician here since 1985 where he serves as the Medical Director of the Radiology-Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory. Dr. Torkelson said the quality of work done in North Country’s laboratory equals that of a lab at a major medical center such as Dartmouth Hitchcock.
The ICAEL was established with the support of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) to provide a peer review mechanism to encourage and recognize the provision of quality echocardiographic diagnostic evolutions by a process of voluntary accreditation. A non-profit organization, the ICAEL is dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting healthcare.
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.
“Here is another accomplishment that is near and dear to our hearts,” CEO Claudio Fort said. “Most hospitals with an echocardiology department in markets like ours where there is little competition are not accredited. Congratulations, and thank you for the time and effort to assure we are meeting the highest standards of patient care for this very important service.”