Image Caption: ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound as the result of an extensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Team members pictured: Jody Bestul, Bret Bishop, Amy Erickson and Miranda Parson.
December 19, 2019
THEDACARE MEDICAL CENTER-SHAWANO EARNS ACR ULTRASOUND ACCREDITATION
Three-Year Term Awarded by the American College of Radiology
SHAWANO, Wis. – ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound as the result of an extensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body parts to help providers diagnose illness, injury or other medical problems.
“The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety,” said Julie Chikowski, Vice President, Critical Access Hospitals-Shawano. “It is important for patients to know that the ACR accreditation process is overseen by board-certified, expert radiologists and medical physicists in advanced diagnostic imaging.”
The accreditation is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report that can be used for continuous practice improvement.
“Our facility has voluntarily gone through a vigorous review process to ensure that we meet nationally-accepted standards of care,” said Chikowski. “Our team members are well qualified, through education and certification, to perform medical imaging and interpret images. Our equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment patients receive, and our facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.”
ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano’s ultrasound team performs approximately more than 400 ultrasound exams per month. Services offered include general, obstetrics, vascular, breast and procedural ultrasound studies. Echocardiogram studies are also performed with the ultrasound suite.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) is the largest and oldest imaging accrediting body in the U.S. and a professional organization of 34,000 physicians.
About American College of Radiology
The ACR, founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science and professions of radiological care. The College serves more than 37,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to a community of more than 600,000 residents in 14 counties and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals. ThedaCare has 180 locations including seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wild Rose. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.
For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
Media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public Relations Specialist at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
