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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/29/2011

Holly Hosler 410.601.8678

Northwest Hospital’s Cardiology Department Receives National Accreditation

The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) has granted Northwest Hospital a three-year term of accreditation in the area of adult transthoracic echocardiography, or cardiac ultrasound. These services, part of Northwest’s Department of Cardiology, assist in the early detection of life-threatening heart disorders and other diseases. The ICAEL confers accreditation only to those facilities that undergo a thorough review and are found to be providing quality patient care in compliance with national standards.

“We’re honored to have earned this prestigious accreditation from the ICAEL,” says Brian M. White, president and COO of Northwest Hospital. “Residents of northwest greater Baltimore can take comfort that they have nearby access to high-quality diagnostic services for cardiovascular disease, which can mean the difference between life and death for some patients.”

On average, every 38 seconds an American dies from cardiovascular disease (CVD), making disorders of the heart and blood vessels the number one cause of death in the United States. The American Heart Association estimates the direct and indirect costs of CVD to be more than half a trillion dollars annually. However, detection and treatment of CVD can save lives and money, making cardiac ultrasound procedures crucial to many patients and their families.

Several factors influence the ability of echocardiography testing to accurately diagnose a cardiovascular disorder. The skill of the ultrasound technician performing the exam, the equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician, and quality assurance measures are each critical to high-quality patient testing.

Accreditation by the ICAEL was given after a panel of echocardiography experts thoroughly reviewed the operational and technical components of Northwest Hospital’s cardiac ultrasound services. This accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that the hospital has been carefully reviewed on all aspects that echocardiography experts consider relevant.

Northwest Hospital is a part of LifeBridge Health, one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in northwest Baltimore. LifeBridge Health also includes Sinai Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.

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