Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in multiple imaging modalities, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and nuclear medicine as the result of an extensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
The imaging modalities receiving ACR accreditation are:
- Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body parts to help providers diagnose illness, injury, or other medical problems.
- CT scanning, sometimes called CAT scanning, is a noninvasive test that helps to diagnose patients and tailor treatments for various medical conditions.
- Nuclear medicine uses trace amounts of radioactive material to diagnosis and treat a variety of diseases including cancers, gastrointestinal abnormalities, heart disease, problems associated with the endocrine system, and more.
The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.
Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are accessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which later provides the practice with a comprehensive report for continuous practice improvement.
“This is a tremendous honor for Garrett Regional Medical Center and our radiology department team,” said Mark Boucot, President and CEO of GRMC and Potomac Valley Hospital. “Achieving this level of national recognition for imaging and patient safety is a direct reflection of our radiology team and their dedication and compassion to our patients.”
The ACR, founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science, and professions of radiological care. The College serves more than 37,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
A full partner in the West Virginia University Health System, Garrett Regional Medical Center is a 55-bed hospital located in Oakland that serves 46,000 people from eight counties throughout the tri-state region. GRMC provides cancer care, urology and nephrology, dermatology, cardiopulmonary, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, women’s healthcare, and heart and vascular care, among other specialty services.
