Mercy Pediatric Cardiology Clinic earns pediatric echocardiography accreditation

Mercy Pediatric Cardiology Clinic has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiography. Accreditation by the IAC indicates that Mercy Pediatric Cardiology Clinic has undergone an intensive application and review process and is compliant with published standards, thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography.

The IAC accreditation process includes a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts, and enables both the critical operational and technical components of the facility to be assessed.

“I am pleased that the efforts of our dedicated pediatric cardiology team are recognized through this accreditation,” said Dr. Mark Zittergruen, pediatric cardiologist at Mercy. “This acknowledgment is a reflection of our commitment to providing the highest level of patient care and quality in cardiac imaging for our young patients.”

A noninvasive cardiac ultrasound test, called an echocardiogram, is commonly used to evaluate heart structure and function.  Each year, more than 35,000 infants in the United States are born with a congenital heart defect, making it the most common type of birth defect. It is also the most critical, as congenital heart defects cause more deaths during the first year of life than any other birth defect. Over the past few decades, however, diagnosis and treatment have improved, allowing almost all affected children to thrive and grow into adulthood.

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, the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure, and the experience and expertise of the reading physician all contribute to a positive patient outcome.  At Mercy Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, all the echocardiographers are certified in pediatric cardiology.  Dr. Zittergruen is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.

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.