St. Anthony Community Hospital’s diagnostic cardiac services earns reaccreditation

WARWICK — Diagnostic Cardiac Services at St. Anthony Community Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network), has been granted accreditation for a three-year term by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic.
IAC accreditation is a seal of approval that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care.
“This recent accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing high quality patient care close to home,” said Seth Hurwitz, MD, Medical Director of Echocardiography at St. Anthony Community Hospital. “Our team is dedicated to continuously finding ways to improve our cardiac services for the community we serve.”
An assessment, without using radiationEchocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. An echocardiogram (also called an echo or cardiac ultrasound) is a painless test that uses sound waves to take moving pictures of the heart.
It shows the size and shape of the heart and how well its valves and chambers are functioning.
Echocardiography does not use radiation and it is one of the most widely used and common diagnostic tools in cardiology. A physician may refer a patient for an echocardiogram when symptoms of heart problems, including heart failure, murmurs and other conditions, are present.
What accreditation meansThere are many factors that contribute to an accurate echocardiographic diagnosis. Some of these include the training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics the facility is required to measure; all which contribute to a positive patient outcome.
Accreditation by the IAC means that St. Anthony Community Hospital’s Diagnostic Cardiac Services has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published IAC Standards thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography.
“Our experienced and knowledgeable echocardiography sonographers are able to, using the latest equipment, consistently provide a high level of diagnostic care to our patients,” said Edgar Perez, MBA, RRT, Director of Respiratory Services at St. Anthony Community Hospital. “We want our patients to be able to receive an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner; that way, if necessary, they can obtain treatment as soon as possible.”
Consult your physician to inquire more information on an echocardiogram referral or for information on the diagnostic services offered through St. Anthony Community Hospital, call 845 987-5147.