Blessing heart imaging service earns national reaccreditation

QUINCY — Blessing Hospital’s Non-Invasive Cardiology Department has earned its fourth three-year accreditation in adult transthoracic echocardiography from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

Transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive procedure that produces images of the heart taken through the chest wall. Using the images, doctors can evaluate all four chambers of the heart, the strength of the heart, the condition of the heart valves and the lining of the heart and the aorta.

The test can be used to detect a heart attack and enlargement of the heart. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 33 seconds of a cardiovascular disease.

Accreditation by the IAC means the department underwent a thorough review of its adult transthoracic echocardiography testing program by a panel of experts. IAC grants accreditation to programs found to be “providing quality patient care in compliance with national standards.”