New Standards Effective November 15, 2021
As an accreditation organization, IAC Echocardiography is committed to maintaining a program that balances the changing needs of both the echocardiography community and the general public by influencing the quality of patient care provided. The IAC Standards and Guidelines for Echocardiography Accreditation are the most important component of that commitment. Composed by physicians and sonographers from the IAC sponsoring organizations, the Standards are reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors and revised as needed.
As a component of the accreditation process, the IAC Echocardiography Board of Directors preliminarily approved the proposed Standards which were recently posted to the IAC website for a 60-day public comment period.
Statement Regarding the 2021 Revisions:
The IAC Echocardiography Board of Directors would like to thank the echocardiography community for taking the time to review the recently proposed revisions to the IAC Standards & Guidelines for Adult Echocardiography. Following IAC’s tradition of transparency and openness to community feedback, the IAC carefully and thoughtfully considered all comments submitted during the comment period that ran from February 15-April 15, 2021.
Based on the comments received, the IAC made the following adjustments to the proposed revisions:
- One hour of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) training is a recommendation for all staff, not a requirement.
(Refer to Section 1A: Personnel and Supervision Guidelines) - The Standards related to room space are recommendations, not requirements.
(Refer to Section 2A: Facility Guidelines) - When available and relevant, it is recommended that comparison with a prior echocardiographic study and/or report should be done and noted in the final report; however, this is not required.
(Refer to Section 3A: Examination Reports and Records Guidelines) - The Standard for multiple site annual Quality Improvement (QI) evaluation was revised for clarification. IAC staff will provide guidance.
(Refer to Applicable Standard 6.1.5A) - The requirements for TTE scheduling will remain unchanged from the previously published Standards.
(Refer to Applicable Standard 1.4.3B) - Injection of agitated saline is only a required TEE component for indication of cardiac source of embolism when no obvious intracardiac shunt is identified with color Doppler.
(Refer to Applicable Standard 2.8.7.8B) - Language regarding ultrasound enhancing agents was revised to align with the recent ASE Expert Consensus Statement.
(Refer to Applicable Standard 1.6.2.4B)
All accepted revisions are shown in the published version of the 2021 Standards & Guidelines for Adult Echocardiography Accreditation in highlighting.