View Larger Image
Senior male patient having ultrasound examination of the heart in medical clinic
UAMS Cardiac Noninvasive Lab Earns Echocardiography Accreditation
| LITTLE ROCK —The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently earned echocardiography accreditation for its cardiac noninvasive laboratory from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure that uses ultrasound to create images of the heart for use in examining its structure and diagnosing heart conditions. UAMS was awarded accreditation in the areas of adult transesophageal, stress and transthoracic echocardiography — procedures that diagnose various conditions of the heart including infections, blood clots and heart artery blockages. UAMS is the only adult-care hospital in central Arkansas to earn accreditation in the areas of adult transesophageal and stress echocardiography.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and excellence of our entire faculty and staff,” said Paul Mounsey, M.D., professor and chair of the Division of Cardiology in the UAMS Department of Internal Medicine. “Achieving IAC accreditation underscores our commitment to providing high-quality education and continuous improvement in all aspects of our program.”
“IAC accreditation is a ‘seal of approval’ that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement,” according to the commission, which was founded in 1991 by medical professionals to evaluate and accredit facilities that provide diagnostic imaging and interventional-based procedures, to advance standardization and quality.
“We are extremely excited for this accomplishment and for the ongoing quality care for our patients,” said Randi Booker, MHA, manager and technical director of the lab. The accreditation process includes a detailed self-evaluation, followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts that enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.
“IAC accreditation attests to the high-quality care that patients referred to our lab receive,” said cardiologist Srikanth Vallurupalli, M.D., medical director of the cardiac noninvasive lab and an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology. “In addition to being performed to the highest quality standards, both inpatient and outpatient studies are interpreted in a timely manner, and final reports made available to referring providers within 24 hours. The accreditation also paves the path towards offering advanced training in echocardiography for our trainees.”
The IAC accreditation lasts for three years.
UAMS echocardiography services are available at the main Little Rock campus and at four other UAMS cardiology clinics, located in Batesville, El Dorado, Maumelle and Midtown Little Rock inside the Women’s Center.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. On average, one American dies every 33 seconds of cardiovascular disease, which includes disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.
###