Northside Cherokee Gets Nuclear Cardiology Accreditation

Northside Hospital-Cherokee has been given a three-year term of accreditation in nuclear cardiology by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

Accreditation by the IAC means the hospital has completed a review of its operational and technical components of nuclear cardiology by a panel of experts.

The commission doles out accreditation to facilities "that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review," the hospital said in a news release.

"This accreditation demonstrates Northside Hospital-Cherokee’s commitment to high standards and to enhancing the quality of care for our heart patients," said Patricia Tyson, administrative director of Northside Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute. "I want to thank our staff for all of their hard work in helping us to achieve this goal."

With the use of noninvasive measures, nuclear cardiology monitors blood flow to the heart, monitors how well the heart pumps and pinpoints the size and location of heart attacks, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology states.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers For Disease Control. 

Early detection of these disorders is possible through the use nuclear cardiology procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians' offices. 

Along with the tests, skills of the technicians performing the exams, the equipment used and the background and knowledge of the interpreting physicians are all critical to providing patients with quality testing, Northside added.

Northside Hospital-Cherokee’s team of board-certified cardiologists, working alongside cardiac-trained nurses and technologists, "has the highest level of expertise in diagnosing and treating disorders like congenital heart defects, coronary artery blockages and heart failure," the company said.