Earning Echocardiography Accreditation by IAC

Carteret Health Care located in Morehead City, NC has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of adult transthoracic. Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious cardiovascular infections or conditions.

“I am proud of the entire team including sonographers, cardiologists, and all members of the cardiopulmonary staff who have worked diligently to achieve this distinction,” said Carteret Health Care’s Interim CEO, Kyle Marek, upon learning of the accreditation. “Receiving this accreditation right before American Heart Month gives our team more opportunity to encourage cardiac health and wellness in the community.”

The cardiac services available at Carteret Health Care consist of stress tests, a cardiac catheterization lab, nuclear medicine and cardiac rehabilitation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. On average, one American dies every 34 seconds of cardiovascular disease - disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Accreditation by the IAC means that Carteret Health Care has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published Standards thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care 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.

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. 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.

As the sole community hospital, Carteret Health Care remains focused on growing essential services to better serve its population and the accreditation comes after Carteret Health Care was chosen as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network in November 2019. Carteret Health Care doctors have access to the latest research, diagnostic and treatment recommendations from the Mayo Clinic to develop best treatment plans for Carteret patients.

Marek concludes, “The accreditation further validates the quality heart care and compassion patients have been receiving and will continue to receive from the hospital.”