VALDOSTA — South Georgia Medical Center’s Dasher Heart Center has earned a three-year accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission in echocardiography in the area of adult transthoracic, according to a hospital press release.

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious cardiovascular conditions.

Accreditation by IAC indicates that the heart center has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be compliant with the published standards thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography. 

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, according to the press release.

Additionally, Dasher Heart Center introduced new, state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound technology, the GE Vivid S70. The highly portable system helps reduce non-diagnostic exams while enhancing collaborative care. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with 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, which amounts to about one every 40 seconds.

For more information, visit sgmc.org.