Statistically Speaking
THE WHO, WHAT, AND WHERE OF ICAEL ACCREDITED LABORATORIES

Have you ever wondered how your accredited echocardiography laboratory compares with approximately 1,264 other laboratories currently accredited by the ICAEL? A primary philosophy held by the ICAEL Board of Directors has always been that the ability for an echocardiography laboratory to become accredited should be inclusive as opposed to exclusive. The intent of this philosophy is that the Standards and application requirements include such a broad scope that a private practice laboratory located in a rural setting would have as much opportunity to achieve accreditation as a larger laboratory located in an academic institution.

The ICAEL is sponsored by a variety of professional organizations representing adult and pediatric echocardiography, and diagnostic ultrasound. Appointed individuals representing the various sponsoring organizations make up the ICAEL Board of Directors. Not only are the specialty fields associated with echocardiography represented, the individuals making up the Board of Directors come from a diverse scope of echocardiography laboratory venues as well, ranging from privately run office-based laboratories to university hospital settings.

The following statistics feature information gathered from ICAEL accreditation applications as of November 2006. You will find that these statistics reflect this multidisciplinary and inclusive approach to the accreditation process, and provide you with an idea of the likenesses and differences your own personal lab possesses in comparison to other accredited laboratories.

THE WHO

Over the past three years, 57% of the laboratories applying for accreditation are seeking reaccreditation, while 43% applied for the first time. Accreditation through the ICAEL was first offered in 1996, making it possible for some of the very first laboratories achieving ICAEL accreditation to be accredited for the fourth time.

Medical Director and Medical Staff

The Medical Directors and Medical Staff Members in accredited laboratories have experience and training in a variety of specialty areas, with the average number of medical staff members per lab at eight.

	MEDICAL DIRECTOR SPECIALTY: Adult Cardiology - 91.2% Internal Medicine - 2.7% Pediatric Cardiology - 5.2% Radiology - 0.1% MEDICAL STAFF SPECIALTY: Adult Cardiology - 95.8% Internal Medicine - 1.1% Pediatric Cardiology - 2.8% Radiology - 0.2%
figure 1.

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