Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Earns Echocardiography Reaccreditation by IAC

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center is proud to announce that it has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in echocardiography in the areas of adult transthoracic. This latest accreditation awarded to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center demonstrates the facility’s ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography. Accreditation by the IAC means that Claxton-Hepburn has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be compliant with the published standards in echocardiography. Comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts, the IAC accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.

Dr. Geetanjli Sangwan, MD, MPH, FACC, cardiologist, and cardiology medical director at Claxton-Hepburn had this to say about the recent IAC reaccreditation. “Our cardiology staff is to be commended for demonstrating our facility’s pursuit of excellence in the field of echocardiography. It is a remarkable accomplishment that the echo lab has earned this distinction.”

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 a stroke as the fourth highest cause of death. 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 echocardiograph. The training and expertise 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.

Shown in the photo is Claxton-Hepburn’s cardiology staff left to right Kathy Beauchamp, Jody Daby, Kathy White, Dr. Sangwan, Renee Palmer, Jillian Pharaoh, and Nancy Moore. For more information about Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s cardiology services, visit us on the web at www.claxtonhepburn.org/cardiology. Your tomorrow is worth defending.