(6/19/12) – The nuclear medicine department at McLeod Medical Center Dillon has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in nuclear medicine as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material, given to the patient by ingestion or injection, to diagnose and treat a variety of disease, including many types of cancers, heart disease, and certain other abnormalities within the body.

Nealy Taylor, NMTCB, RT(N), performs testing and oversees quality assurance of the equipment at McLeod Medical Center Dillon. She is certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board, as well as the American Registry of Radiologic Technology in the Nuclear Medicine Division.

"In order to maintain these accreditations and successfully comply with regulations, daily calibrations and quality assurance checks are performed on the nuclear medicine equipment. Quarterly oversight of this work is provided by a Certified Radiological Physicist on a quarterly basis, of which McLeod Dillon has assured 100% compliance," said Tim McKinley, R.T. (R)(T), Director of Radiology Services at McLeod Dillon. "Nealy’s hard work and dedication ensures that the highest quality diagnostic imaging is performed in the Nuclear Medicine Department."

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

About the American College of Radiology
The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

About McLeod Dillon
With a strong history in the Dillon community since 1943, McLeod Dillon has continued to grow and expand to serve residents of Dillon (SC) and Robeson (NC) counties with excellence in patient care. The Joint Commission accredited medical center employs 350 and has the strength of 100 physicians on its medical staff. McLeod Dillon offers general and orthopedic surgery, women’s services, emergency services, intensive care, rehabilitative services and cardiac rehabilitation. Investments in state of the art technology to improve patient care have included Open MRI, digital mammography, 4D ultrasounds and vascular studies. For more information, visit www.McLeodDillon.org.