Landmark Medical Center Awarded Three-Year Accreditation in Echocardiography

Landmark Medical Center announced today that it has received an echocardiography accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

The accreditation, in adult transthoracic and adult transesophageal echocardiography, is valid for three years, according to a release distributed by the hospital this week.

An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive procedure to examine a heart and potentially diagnose conditions related to cardiovascular disease. A transthoracic echocardiogram entails a probe of a person’s thorax, or chest wall, from which images are taken. Transesophageal echocardiograms examine the heart through a patient’s esophagus – an alternative to the transthoracic echocardiogram.

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission on Echocardiography sets standards for echo labs in the United States and an accreditation from the IAC means that Landmark’s diagnostic services have been thoroughly reviewed by experts in echocardiography procedures and its facilities are found to provide quality patient care compliant with national standards.

“Heart disease is one of the most common threats to health in the United States today and providing a high level of service to patients with heart disease or heart conditions is crucial. The accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff in Diagnostic Services,” said Rick Charest, president of Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island.

Prime Healthcare Services, which has been recognized among the top 15 health systems in the nation, has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire Landmark and RHRI. Since signing the agreement, Prime Healthcare has flown several experts to Landmark to provide recommendations and guidance for improving hospital operations and has arranged for national experts to provide educational lectures to medical staff.  

Although the acquisition must still be approved by the state, Prime Healthcare is currently upgrading Landmark’s entire cardiac monitoring telemetry system in advance of the agreement closure at a cost of approximately $850,000.

“This accreditation is an achievement for both Landmark and Prime Healthcare,” Charest added. “We appreciate being recognized for our high-quality echocardiography services.”