December 11, 2008 – GE Healthcare has started a program that helps clinical sites, using any vendor’s ultrasound systems, address the part of accreditation filing that deals with equipment and image quality.
These imaging and system checks are components of the overall accreditation requirements specified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and other accrediting bodies.
“The government and many healthcare organizations are planning to start adjusting reimbursements to facilities that don’t obtain accreditation,” said Ann Marie Lubert, general manager, GE Healthcare Ultrasound Services. “Our accreditation offering is a direct response to our customers’ request for such services. This program relieves biomeds and clinicians of the activities they normally had to conduct to satisfy the part of accreditation that deals with their ultrasound systems and image quality checks.”
The new accreditation offering is available under GE’s Quality Assurance (QA) Program, which is comprised of two elements: Equipment Quality Checks (EQC) and Image Quality Checks (IQC), both on-site, periodic activities.
GE Healthcare also announced yesterday that they are offering ultrasound system users a DVD at no additional charge that demonstrates proper care of GE Healthcare ultrasound probes. The DVD, designed to help ensure safe, long-term use of these devices, covers care guidelines for Abdominal and General Imaging probes, 3D/4D Mechanical and Electronic probes, 2D/3D Trans-vaginal and Trans-rectal probes, Transesophageal (TEE) probes and Intra-operative probes. To request your Ultrasound Probe Care DVD, please visit www.gehealthcare.com/ProbeCare.
For more information: www.gehealthcare.com