BRIDGEPORT, CT, January 29, 2007 - St. Vincent's Medical Center has been awarded a three-year Computed Tomography Accreditation as the result of a recent survey by the Commission on Quality and Safety of the American College of Radiology.
St. Vincent's was awarded the accreditation for its General Electric LIGHTSPEED scanners through 2010. The ACR recently instituted individual accreditation programs for scanners and other diagnostic devices.
"ACR accreditation provides a high level of confidence for patients, referring physicians and managed care organizations that only the highest quality care is being provided by accredited facilities," said Joseph A. Gagliardi, MD, Interim Chairman, Department of Radiology at St. Vincent's.
CT scans, originally known at computer axial tomography, revolutionized diagnostic medicine by mating computers and x-ray machines to create non-invasive, highly detailed three-dimensional images of the inside of the body.
"This is the first time we have sought accreditation for this modality, and we're very pleased to participate in the new program," said Dr. Gagliardi, noting that accreditation is a voluntary program in which the hospital submits to a rigorous review.
Rachael Giliotti, St. Vincent's Director of Radiology, said the ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer review evaluation of the practices. The accreditation signifies that physicians and staff are certified and highly trained and that all technology and equipment meet and exceed guidelines.
"The accreditation is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the entire CT scan staff and Bina Chaddha, MD, Medical Director of CT Scan. This is an outstanding achievement that supports other initiatives in the Medical Center to improve outcomes and patient safety," Giliotti said.
Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment.
St. Vincent's comprehensive diagnostic services include Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CT Scanning, PET Scanning, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology. An expert team of board-certified radiologists is available 24 hours a day. For more information to a referral, call the toll-free St. Vincent's Careline at 1-877-255-SVHS (7847).
