The Echocardiography Laboratory at University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center has received a three-year term of accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in the areas of adult transthoracic, adult transesophageal, and adult stress echocardiography.

IAC accreditation means the Echocardiography Laboratory has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with published standards, thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care.

Comprised of a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts, the IAC accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed, including representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed closely by stroke as the fourth highest cause of death. According to the American Heart Association, more than 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease.