Tampa General Hospital Recognized for 25-Year Commitment to Safety in Vascular Testing

The accolade reflects the academic health system’s long-standing commitment to better patient care and improved outcomes

Tampa, FL (June 4, 2024) –Tampa General Hospital (TGH) today announced it has received the Silver Milestone Recognition from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in honor of TGH’s 25-year commitment to improving patient outcomes and safety in vascular testing.

“As the industry’s gold standard in vascular testing, the IAC seal of accreditation is a significant milestone in Tampa General’s commitment to be one of the safest and most innovative health systems in the nation,” said Sherri Lewman, SVP Enterprise Imaging of Tampa General Hospital. “TGH is thrilled to be recognized for its dedication to quality patient care and improved patient outcomes and we look forward to continuing this momentum over the next 25 years.”

Tampa General was recognized by the IAC following an intensive application and review process to re-earn accreditation, with an assessment conducted 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.

“I am very proud to work with a team of sonographers committed to innovation and continuous learning, while focusing on the patient experience and patient safety,” said Doreen Fernandez, ultrasound main and OB department manager at Tampa General Hospital. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement.”

Vascular testing procedures enable early detection of life-threatening heart disorders, stroke and other diseases. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, one person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Stroke, a disorder of the blood supply to the brain, is a leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the country, with nearly 800,000 strokes occurring annually.

“We are proud to recognize long-time accredited vascular testing facilities through the milestone recognition program. Since first granting accreditation in 1991 as the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL), we (now IAC Vascular Testing) have helped thousands of facilities standardize their processes to provide better patient care and improved outcomes. These facilities are true champions of accreditation, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care using accreditation as a quality metric. These facilities’ ongoing commitment to quality patient care is an example for other health care providers to follow. It is a reminder of the importance of putting patients first and striving to continuously improve the quality of care provided,” said Mary Lally, MS, CAE, CEO of the IAC.

Several studies have been published demonstrating the impact of IAC accreditation on patient care. Specific to vascular testing, research indicates through a peer review process, accreditation identifies areas for improvement, resulting in increased quality of images and interpretation through the use of standardized reporting and quality improvement programs. Facilities that achieve IAC accreditation demonstrate a clear indicator that they provide a high-quality level of patient care.