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Prior to receiving accreditation, an applicant facility experiences many benefits through participation in the process. Most significantly, the advantages gained through the self-evaluation process are the overall operational improvements that are a direct result of reviewing the IAC Standards and Guidelines for Nuclear/PET Accreditation to ensure compliance and subsequent completion of the detailed Online Accreditation application.  In addition, the detailed Application Review Findings (ARF) letter, received by every applicant facility, is designed as a tool to be used by accredited facilities to ensure continual improvement.
Beyond these benefits related to quality, there is the value associated with the perception of being an accredited facility. However, to truly experience this benefit, steps must be taken to market the distinction. Facilities are encouraged to explore the wide range of opportunities for promoting their accreditation status. In today's information age and era of savvy health care consumers, the general public has begun to understand the importance of looking for evidence of quality, as it relates to their medical care. News-oriented television programs, along with mainstream print media, have spotlighted inadequate diagnostic procedures and brought the need for quality in these fields to the public's attention.
The Importance of Marketing
Your Facility's Commitment to Quality
Staff members of accredited facilities expend great amounts of time and effort to complete the process and earn accreditation for their facilities. Following up this accomplishment by taking the extra steps to communicate the achievement to patients, referring physicians and third-party payers will enhance the overall value of accreditation experienced by the facility. Whether within a small, private office or a large medical center, there are many marketing strategies that can be employed to promote the accreditation of the facility and raise awareness of the commitment to quality embraced by the staff of the facility.
The IAC website for nuclear/PET accreditation features a listing of accredited facilities, allowing anyone to search for accredited facilities by state, viewing the specific areas in which accreditation has been granted along with the facility's street address and expiration date.
Whether facilities choose to embark on a widespread marketing campaign or implement a few simple promotional techniques, communication of the facility's accreditation status is a step that should not be overlooked when seeking to experience the full spectrum of benefits associated with accreditation.
Navigate through the Promoting Your Accreditation section tab to the left to see many ways that labs are using the materials provided to them to promote their accreditation. |
