Pioneer Valley Cardiology receives Nuclear Cardiology accreditationDate: 8/22/2011 SPRINGFIELD — Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 38 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 and stroke in the U.S. for 2010 is $503.2 billion.
Early detection of life threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of nuclear cardiology procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians’ offices. While these tests are very helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on nuclear cardiology testing. The skill of the nuclear medicine technologist 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.
Pioneer Valley Cardiology in Springfield, has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Nuclear Cardiology by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL).
Accreditation by the ICANL means that Pioneer Valley Cardiology has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts.
The ICANL 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.
ICANL 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 nuclear medicine. When scheduled for a nuclear medicine 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 the ICANL Web site, www.icanl.org/icanl/main/patients.htm.
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