The Vascular labs at Memorial Hospital at Easton and Dorchester General Hospital each earned three-year accreditation from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. This clinical distinction recognizes these labs for commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease in its many forms is the leading cause of death in the US. Early detection of these life-threatening conditions is possible through the use of non-invasive vascular testing.

Registered vascular sonographers staff the Vascular Laboratories at Memorial Hospital and Dorchester General Hospital. They use state of the art imaging technology to measure blood as it flows through the veins and arteries throughout the body. The results of these tests help physicians diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, vascular complications of diabetes, and blockages in the carotid artery, which feeds blood to the brain.

Memorial Hospital’s vascular lab received its first accreditation in 2009, the same year that Dorchester General Hospital opened its vascular lab. This year, 2012, was the first year the DGH lab was eligible for earning its accreditation.

“Earning accreditation is a yearlong process that looks at our facility and equipment, the credentials and training of our staff, and the testing results we produce,” says Gary Jones, RCP, FAACA, Director of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Services for Shore Health System. “Earning accreditation means that the work we do meets the highest clinical standards of the vascular testing profession.”

For more information about the Shore Health System vascular testing program, 410-822-1000, ext. 5809.

In photo: Members of the Shore Health System Vascular Laboratory staff celebrate their accreditation. Pictured (left to right) are Amanda Helgason, BS, RDCS, Cardiovascular Sonographer; Cilica Nita, MA, RDCS, Cardiovascular Sonographer; Charles E. DiNapoli, MD, Medical Director, Vascular Lab; Lori Bratten, Department Secretary; Dudley Soulsman, RVT, Clinical Vascular Specialist; and Russ Lucas, RVT, RRT, Vascular Sonographer. Not pictured: John Lacoco, RVT, RRT, CPFT, Vascular Sonographer; Kevin Stitely, MD; and Melissa Svehla, BS, RDCS, RVT, Cardiovascular Sonographer.