(12/12/11) – Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing society over 576 billion dollars each year in health services, medications and lost work time due to disability. One American dies every 38 seconds of cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Stroke, a disorder of the blood supply to the brain, is the third leading cause of death and disability in this country, with 800,000 new strokes occurring annually.

Early detection of life-threatening vascular diseases is possible through the use of non-invasive vascular testing techniques performed within vascular laboratories such as those at McLeod Health.

McLeod Physician Associates is pleased to announce that the vascular laboratory of McLeod Vascular Associates has achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). The attaining of this recognition is an indication of their commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease.
McLeod Vascular Associates is located on the McLeod Health campus. The physicians affiliated with this practice are board certified vascular surgeons Dr. Christopher Cunningham and Dr. Ganesha Perera.

While non-invasive vascular tests are very helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on vascular testing. The skill of the vascular technologist performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing.

"We have two full-time Registered Vascular Technicians on staff that perform the diagnostic testing on our patients," said Dr. Perera. "These technicians are an important component of this accreditation as it is their work that is so critically viewed as part of the accreditation process."

During the accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory’s daily operations and its impact on the quality of health care provided to patients is assessed and reviewed. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revise protocols and validate quality assurance programs.

Participation in the accreditation process demonstrates the laboratory’s attention to a high level of patient care and quality testing. ICAVL accreditation is valid for a period of three years.
"ICAVL certification represents the highest national endorsement of quality and competency of the vascular laboratory," said Dr. Cunningham. "A certified laboratory is the cornerstone of patient diagnosis for vascular diseases such as Stroke, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, and Peripheral Artery Disease and long term monitoring for Carotid Stenosis. When a laboratory is certified it produces high quality studies that are safe, accurate and cost effective."

Dr. Cunningham also serves as the Medical Director of the McLeod Vascular Laboratory located in the McLeod Tower. "The McLeod Vascular Laboratory has been accredited for several years. Now that both labs are accredited, patients have the comfort of knowing that no matter where they receive their diagnostic testing on the McLeod Campus it is being performed by technologists who have a proven competency level of their skills, taking place in a laboratory that meets and exceeds a high level of standards," added Dr. Cunningham.

The ICVAL is a non-profit organization established with the support of eleven medical societies including physicians, technologists and sonographers that represent medical specialties including cardiology, neurology, radiology, vascular medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine and biology.

McLeod Vascular Associates is accepting new patients. For information please contact their office at 843-777-7043.