Western Baptist echocardiography earns accreditation

Western Baptist Hospital’s echocardiography has earned a national seal of approval for meeting high quality standards.

Three-year accreditation has been awarded by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories. The independent agency is supported by several national organizations, including the American College of Cardiology.

Bob Seely, director of radiology services at Western Baptist, said accreditation of the 2-D ultrasounds, used to diagnose heart problems, recognizes quality in the staff and equipment.

“Whether it’s a murmur, a blockage or a hole in the heart, whenever a heart problem is suspected,” Seely said, “it’s important to get a high-quality image to find out exactly what is wrong, so it can be treated properly.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. The noninvasive test has become one of the standard diagnostic tools in cardiology.

Western Baptist has four technologists and eight heart ultrasound machines in the Baptist Heart Center.

For information, contact Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.