University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center Earns Echocardiography Accreditation by IAC

ELYRIA, OH – University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center has earned accreditation in adult transthoracic echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). The accreditation was awarded for a term of three years.

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed closely by stroke as the fourth highest cause. According to the American Heart Association, more than 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease, which amounts to about one every 40 seconds.

There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography. The training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure, all contribute to a positive patient outcome. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a dedication to continuous improvement.

Transthoracic echocardiograms are performed at UH Elyria Medical Center through UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute. “One of the many benefits of being part of a health system like UH is that our patients receive the same high-quality care at their local hospital or health center that they would receive at our main campus in downtown Cleveland,” said Raymond Musarra, BSAS, RCS, RDCS, FASE, Manager and Technical Director of Echocardiography, UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, UH Cleveland Medical Center. “UH Elyria follows the same stringent protocols for adult transthoracic echocardiography that we follow and their physicians and sonographers all meet or exceed the certification levels required by IAC for accreditation.” He continued, “This enables UH to provide the care that people need, close to their homes.”

IAC accreditation is comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts. The process enables bot the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.