The UC Davis Medical Center echocardiography laboratory has been re-accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). The accreditation covers adult transthoracic, adult transesophageal and adult stress echocardiography.
"This re-accreditation from the IAC is an important recognition of the high standards we uphold in our echocardiography lab. It affirms the precision, quality and consistency of the care we provide every day," said Thomas Smith, director of the adult echocardiography laboratory and chief of cardiovascular medicine at UC Davis Health. "I'm incredibly proud of our team — their skill, dedication and teamwork are the reason we continue to meet these rigorous standards. Their commitment to excellence ensures that every patient receives safe, accurate and compassionate heart imaging."
An echocardiogram is a simple, noninvasive ultrasound test that shows how the heart is working. It uses sound waves to create moving pictures of the heart, helping doctors see:
- How well the heart muscle pumps
- How the valves open and close
- Size and shape of the heart
- How blood moves through the heart
Doctors may order an echocardiogram to check symptoms, monitor known heart conditions or learn how the patient is doing after treatment. The test is painless, does not use radiation and is similar to the type of ultrasound used during pregnancy, but focused on the heart instead.
IAC accreditation shows that UC Davis Medical Center meets national standards for high-quality echocardiography services. The accreditation process includes a detailed self-review, followed by an in-depth evaluation from a panel of medical experts. They assess both the technical and day-to-day operations of the lab, including sample case studies and final reports.
