Newswise — Gottlieb Memorial Hospital has received a three-year accreditation in the areas of Adult Stress and Adult Transthoracic Echocardiography from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). Only facilities that demonstrate comprehensive adherence to rigorous national standards successfully complete the ICAEL review process to earn accreditation.
“Standardized protocols such as the ICAEL deliver better results for patients,” says Ivan Pacold, MD, chairman, Cardiology Department at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of Loyola University Health System. “Gottlieb has met the ICAEL protocols and standards, which means that we are providing the highest level of care to our heart patients.” Pacold likens the ICAEL accreditation for echocardiography to that of the Joint Commission accreditation for patient safety and quality of care for hospitals. Gottlieb is a Joint Commission accredited hospital.
Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in America. On average, one American dies every 38 seconds of cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Early detection of life-threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of echocardiograms.
“ICAEL looks at all aspects of the echocardiogram, including the skill of the technician, the accuracy of the interpreting physicians, and the comprehensiveness and clarity of the report,” said Gerry Arcaro, manager, Cardiology Department. ”This process assures that the echocardiograms are of the highest quality.”
An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive procedure used to examine the heart and to diagnose potential problems. It uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to literally see all four chambers of the heart, the heart valves, the great blood vessels entering and leaving the heart and the sac around the heart. During a transthoracic echocardiogram, a certified technician obtains views of the heart by moving a small instrument called a transducer on the chest wall.
An echocardiography with a stress test inspects the pumping capability of the heart. It is a useful procedure in the evaluations of patients experiencing shortness of breath or chest discomfort during exertion.
U.S. News and World Report ranked GottNWSLUGlieb 30th in overall rankings of hospitals in metropolitan Chicago.
Gottlieb, a full-service community hospital, is part of Loyola University Health System. Loyola University Medical Center is also accredited by the ICAEL in Adult Stress and Adult Transthoracic Echocardiography.
Loyola has been nationally ranked in Heart and Heart Surgery for nine years in a row.
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