Misti Conner, Sam Fraga, Susan Coenen,
Brian Patterson and Ronda Littrell
A picture is worth a thousand words, but images being created at Mercy Hospital Berryville’s radiology department are telling a much more vivid story.
The department has been CT accredited after a review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). “It’s a big deal,” said director of imaging Susan Coenen. “This puts us in the same range as larger facilities – and sets us apart from those who haven’t already been accredited.”
Simply put, the accreditation means computed tomography images for pediatric and adult patients meet the highest standards for quality and patient safety. The CT Accreditation Program involves a peer review by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists.
“This group at Mercy made the changes to function better – not just to pass the ACR,” said Tammy Marlow, quality coordinator for Mercy Springfield, which is also CT accredited. Marlow assisted the radiology department in Berryville with the accreditation process. “It takes a whole crew to make the ACR program happen, and they have a phenomenal team in Berryville.”
“As part of the three-year accreditation, we will keep up with certain standards and record-keeping, continue education and follow particular protocols,” said Coenen. “Not only are we keeping radiation doses low, but image quality will be very high.”
Right now, the accreditation program is strictly voluntary. Providers that bill under part B of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule must be accredited in order to receive technical component reimbursement from Medicare. However, Mercy Hospital Berryville doesn’t fall under that category.
“The community can feel very comfortable going to this facility for any type of CT imaging,” said Marlow. “They’ll be in great hands.”
Mercy Hospital Berryville is also ultrasound accredited, and has been so for three years. The facility offers digital mammography, general and vascular ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine and dexascans.
Since 1987, the ACR has accredited more than 35,000 facilities in 10 imaging modalities. To learn more about the accreditation process, click here.
