WellStar Receives Two Clinical Distinctions

For the seventh consecutive year, the American Association for Respiratory Care has named WellStar a Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) institution. Of the 5,000 hospitals in the United States, only 700 have achieved this distinction; WellStar’s recognition is for all five hospitals.

This year’s standards include a new requirement on attended care. The standard prohibits treatment of multiple patients simultaneously by respiratory therapists to ensure all patients receive one-on-one care.

“This recognition speaks to the quality of WellStar’s respiratory therapists,” said Fred Droms, Executive Director for WellStar Respiratory Care Services. “They are a dedicated team committed to bringing the highest standards of respiratory care to our patients.”

In other clinical news, WellStar was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). To achieve ICAEL accreditation, WellStar’s Echocardiography Department was reviewed by an independent agency that recognized the laboratory’s commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary.

“This accreditation is a testament to the wonderful work and dedication of our entire Echocardiography Department,” said Robin Chamberlain, director of non-invasive cardiology for WellStar. “WellStar is extremely proud of this important accreditation and the tremendous work it recognizes.”

Echocardiography is a complex imaging technique that relies on the experience and training of both the physician and sonographer, as their abilities determine the diagnostic accuracy of the echocardiographic examination.