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St. Mary’s Hospital located in Centralia, IL has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of Adult Transthoracic. This latest accreditation awarded to St. Mary’s Hospital demonstrates the facility’s ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography.

Accreditation by the IAC means that St. Mary’s Hospital has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be compliance with the published Standards thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography. Comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts, the IAC accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.

"Our team is incredibly skilled, and this reaccreditation attests to that. I am proud to be a part of the SSM Health family. Every day we strive for excellence in providing exceptional care for our patients,” says Amy Merten, BSN, RN, Regional Manager – Cardiology and Cardiac Rehab SSM Health Illinois
Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. On average, one American dies every 34 seconds of cardiovascular disease - disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography. The training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure, all contribute to a positive patient outcome. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement.

About IAC
The IAC is a nonprofit organization in operation to evaluate and accredit facilities that provide diagnostic imaging and interventional-based procedures, thus improving the quality of patient care provided in private offices, clinics and hospitals where such services are performed. The IAC provides accreditation programs for vascular testing, echocardiography, nuclear/PET, MRI, diagnostic CT, dental CT, carotid stenting, vein treatment and management, vascular interventional, cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular catheterization. The IAC programs for accreditation are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting health care and all support one common mission: Improving health care through accreditation®. Committed to its mission through a rigorous peer review process, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites since its inception in 1991. To learn more about IAC, visit intersocietal.org.

About SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, operating in partnership with the Felician Sisters, is a 113-bed hospital specializing in behavioral health, bariatric surgery, wound/hyperbaric care, cancer treatments, and minimally invasive general surgical care along with pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital of St. Louis, Mo.
In 2016, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital was named a “Best Hospital” by US News and World Report for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for seven years in a row; the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award five years in a row; and in recent years the Critical Care Excellence Award.  It also was recognized in 2016 through Quest by Premier Inc. with the Citation of Merit Award for High-Value Healthcare.
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