The Regional Medical Center's Vascular Center recently achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). RMC's vascular facility was first accredited by the ICAVL in 1997 and at the time was among the first 1,000 vascular laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be granted this accreditation.
Accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency, which recognizes the laboratory's commitment of quality testing for diagnosis of vascular disease. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary and demonstrates the laboratory's attention to a high level of patient care and quality testing. ICAVL accreditation is valid for a period of three years.
Julius W. Babb III, MD serves as medical director, and Debbie Lyons, registered vascular technologist, serves as technical director of RMC’s Vascular Center.
“The quality of our examinations is much to the credit of our highly skilled staff,” commented Dr. Babb. “I commend the Vascular Center’s entire staff for consistently producing top quality test results that facilitate early detection of potential health issues. Through these comprehensive tests, the location and severity of vascular problems like aneurysms, carotid blockages that may cause stroke, and vascular disorders of the extremities are identified.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing society over 83.7 billion dollars each year in health services, medications and lost work time due to disability. Stroke, a disorder of the blood supply to the brain, is the third leading cause of death and disability in the country, with 500,000 new strokes occurring annually.
One American dies every 32 seconds from cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Each year two million people in the United States, alone, develop deep vein thrombosis-blood clots in the veins. This affliction becomes life threatening for 500,000 of those people when the blood clot breaks loose and travels to their lungs. With early detection through the use of noninvasive vascular testing, this disease can be prevented.
Early detection of these vascular diseases is possible through the use of noninvasive vascular testing techniques performed within vascular laboratories like the Vascular Center at the Regional Medical Center. Tingly toes, blurred vision, dizzy spells and slurred speech are some of the symptoms that may indicate the need for a trip to the Vascular Center.
“Our community needs to be reminded of the importance of the screenings available at the Vascular Center. They identify the location and severity of vascular disorders,” noted Dr. Babb. “In an effort to be proactive in assessing our community’s health, our vascular screenings are offered to the public monthly with a goal of discovering potential problems early.”
RMC’s Vascular Center is one of a select number of vascular laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to meet or exceed the ICAVL standards for noninvasive vascular testing. During the accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory’s daily operations and its impact on the quality of healthcare provided to patients is assessed and reviewed. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revising protocols and validating quality assurance programs.
ICAVL is a non-profit organization established with the support of 11 medical societies including physicians, technologists and sonographers that represent the medical specialties of cardiology, neurology, radiology, vascular medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine and biology.
For more information about RMC's Vascular Center and the monthly screening opportunities, please call 395-4545 or (800) 476-3377, ext. 4545. | 
RMC’s Vascular Center recently achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). From left are Joy Thompson, Receptionist; Ashley Durr, Sonographer; Julius W. Babb III, MD, Medical Director; and Debbie Lyons, Technical Director. (Team members absent from photo are Peggy Murray and Connie Wise.) |