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Improving Quality in Noninvasive Testing by Certification and Accreditation

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Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis

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Abstract

Vascular sonography has evolved significantly since its first application in the mid-1970s. As instrumentation has developed, techniques and applications have expanded dramatically. With the maturation of these modalities, the importance of credentialing and accreditation has become central to the function of the vascular laboratory.

As this evolution has occurred, vascular laboratories have moved from their initial location in vascular surgery departments to a wide variety of locations: departments of ultrasound, cardiology, vascular medicine and neurology, as well as outpatient sites in each of these specialties.

Technologist training and certification has changed dramatically along with this development. On-the-job training has been replaced by structured educational programs. Physician management of the laboratory has expanded from vascular surgeons to radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and vascular medicine specialists.

This rapid growth and change has presented challenges to the provision of accurate, reproducible, and consistent information provided by each facility. This chapter will outline the development of technologist and physician training and certification as well as facility organization and accreditation as a means to address these challenges.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 5200 Centre Ave., Suite 307, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA

    Steven A. Leers MD, RVT

Authors
  1. Steven A. Leers MD, RVT
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven A. Leers MD, RVT .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Charleston, West Virginia, USA

    Ali F. AbuRahma

Review Questions

Review Questions

  1. 1.

    Credentialing is a certification that applies to:

    1. a.

      Sonographers or physicians

    2. b.

      Sonographers only

    3. c.

      Physicians only

    4. d.

      Vascular laboratory facilities

  2. 2.

    The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission grants facility accreditation to:

    1. a.

      Vascular laboratory technologists

    2. b.

      Vascular laboratory medical directors

    3. c.

      Vascular laboratory medical staff

    4. d.

      Vascular laboratory facilities

  3. 3.

    By 2017 credentialing will be required for ALL vascular laboratory:

    1. a.

      Medical staff

    2. b.

      Medical directors

    3. c.

      Technical staff

    4. d.

      Technical directors

  4. 4.

    There are virtually no vascular sonographers or technicians in:

    1. a.

      India

    2. b.

      Canada

    3. c.

      Australia

    4. d.

      United Kingdom

Answer Key

  1. 1.

    a

  2. 2.

    d

  3. 3.

    c

  4. 4.

    a

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Leers, S.A. (2017). Improving Quality in Noninvasive Testing by Certification and Accreditation. In: AbuRahma, A. (eds) Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54760-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54760-2_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54758-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54760-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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