May 2008

News of the Vascular Profession

Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Announces Merger of its Five Individual Accrediting Bodies

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) recently announced a merger of its five individual accrediting bodies. The IAC is a national, nonprofit organization in operation to evaluate and accredit diagnostic imaging facilities, with the goal of improving the quality of patient care provided in private physician offices, clinics and hospitals where such medical tests are provided.

Currently, there are five individual accrediting divisions within IAC:

• The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL); providing accreditation for facilities performing noninvasive vascular testing; www.icavl.org
• The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL); providing accreditation for facilities performing echocardiography; www.icael.org
• The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL); providing accreditation for facilities performing nuclear cardiology, general nuclear medicine, and or PET imaging; www.icanl.org
• The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Magnetic Resonance Laboratories (ICAMRL); providing accreditation for facilities performing magnetic resonance imaging; www.icamrl.org
• The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Computed Tomography Laboratories (ICACTL); providing accreditation for facilities performing computed tomography; www.icactl.org

Rita Shugart, RN, RVT, IAC Chairman, reflected on the significance of the merger by commenting, “The recent IAC reorganization marks the biggest change in our history. Most notably, the improvement of streamlined business practices will enable the individual accrediting divisions to be free of the business responsibilities of running a company and instead focus on the important work of setting and maintaining standards in their areas of expertise. Participating laboratories will experience the benefits of the reorganization for years to come as we are better able to fulfill our mission of recognizing the provision of quality patient care through quality diagnostic imaging.”
Increased participation in the accreditation program in recent years has resulted in dramatic growth as reflected by the combined staff of nearly 40 individuals, along with a volunteer network of 78 Board members and hundreds of application reviewers, and site visitors.

Sandra L. Katanick, CAE, IAC Chief Executive Officer, remarked, “While the change will be relatively transparent to applicant laboratories, those performing more than one type of imaging (e.g.: a cardiology practice performing both echocardiography and noninvasive vascular examinations), will surely notice the cohesiveness that the reorganization brings. Tangible illustrations of the merger include creation single IQC accreditation agreement and the transition to the Online Accreditation application for each of the five divisions, within 2008. Each of these will be very beneficial to laboratories seeking IAC accreditation for more than one imaging modality. In addition, there is a new format for the IAC Newsletter, which allows for a unified publication highlighting each of the divisions for the first time and for years to come.

About the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission

To date, the IAC accrediting bodies have granted accreditation to more than 5600 laboratories throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Each of the five IAC accrediting divisions has developed a comprehensive, peer-review accreditation program for its respective area of diagnostic testing and is recognized for providing a mechanism through which laboratories can demonstrate their commitment to quality care. The accrediting bodies have each been created using an intersocietal approach, independent of a membership organization but supported by the sponsoring organizations. Each of the five divisions will continue to be guided by individual division Boards, and each will have autonomy over the ongoing development of The Standards, respective to the division’s accreditation program.

The accreditation granted by the IAC signifies that a laboratory has been reviewed by an independent agency and the applicant facility was found to be in substantial compliance with objective standards of quality. While participation in the accreditation process is considered voluntary, a multiple of private insurers, as well as Medicare carriers, have instituted policies linking reimbursement to the accreditation status of the laboratory. For more information visit www.intersocietal.org.

Join Team VDF for 2008 Chicago Marathon

The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF), of which SVU is a partner organization, again is sponsoring a team of runners in the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, to be held Sunday, Oct. 12 in Chicago. If interested in becoming a member of Team VDF for the 2008 Chicago Marathon, go to the following website for details: http://www.vdf.org/news/BankofAmericaChicagoMarathon.php.

Team VDF runners pay a $35 tax deductible registration fee and receive a Team VDF T-shirt and a goody bag. Once registered with Team VDF, you must commit to raising a minimum of $150 towards vascular disease education. Those participants who raise more than the $150 minimum will be eligible for prizes such as gift cards and clothing. Fundraising support and encouragement will be provided by VDF along the way.

If not interesting in joining Team VDF to run in the marathon, interested SVU members can support this hard working team by making an online donation to Team VDF. All donations are tax deductible and support vascular disease education.

For further details on the 2008 Team VDF call the VDF office at 303-989-0500 or go to the VDF website: www.vdf.org

American College of Physicians Publishes “Peripheral Arterial Disease” book

The American College of Physicians recently published a “Peripheral Arterial Disease” book designed to provide clinicians with the most current information on the diagnosis and treatment of PAD.

Co-edited by Michael Jaff, DO, and Emile Mohler,, MD, the book covers the epidemiology of PAD, evaluation techniques and procedures, testing methods, medical/endovascular/surgical treatment options, management of PAD risk factors, current and future therapies for PAD, and when to refer patients for surgery.

For more information, visit www.acponline.org/padbook.