Vascular Lab reaches 30 years of full accreditation
By Stephanie Buck
(SACRAMENTO) Radiology Supervisor Meagan Shaw and Senior Ultrasound Technician Holly Gray accept the Gold Award from the IAC.
Thirty years of continuous full accreditation is no small feat. Yet UC Davis Health’s Vascular Lab has achieved just that. June marked three decades that the team has achieved the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission’s (IAC) top ranks.
The facility is the only IAC-accredited lab in Sacramento across all four specialties:
Extracranial cerebrovascular testing
Peripheral arterial testing
Peripheral venous testing
Visceral vascular testing
“Accreditation means we have jumped through a lot of hoops,” said Kevin Lindholm, a senior ultrasound technician who has worked at the lab since 1995. To be accredited, the team doesn’t just have to display clinical expertise, but also use advanced imaging and submit various data sets that demonstrate careful, quality work. “We are holding ourselves accountable to a very high standard. It shows what we are capable of doing,” Lindholm added.
What the Vascular Lab does
Established in 1979, the Vascular Lab provides non-invasive diagnostic services, such as ultrasound imaging and Doppler blood flow evaluation. The facility serves UC Davis Medical Center, the Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center and the Placer Center for Health.
The Vascular Lab goes beyond simply fulfilling orders that come in from referring physicians, said Radiology Supervisor Meagan Shaw. "If symptoms don't align, they work to diagnose the issue. On a daily basis, my team saves lives and limbs."
Why accreditation is important
Being a fully accredited facility means providers and health care organizations look to UC Davis Health’s Vascular Lab as a benchmark.
“Referring physicians know there will be a level of knowledge and quality,” said Senior Ultrasound Technician Holly Gray, who has worked at the lab since 1999 and directs its quality assurance program. The team hosts quarterly meetings to monitor and maintain its high clinical standards.
We continue to employ highly skilled and talented technologists who conduct the highest quality vascular testing."—David Del Pizzo, interim associate chief operating officer, Ambulatory Operations
Shaw leads the lab’s accreditation renewal process, which is required every three years. Besides applying for renewal, the team must submit exams to IAC and ensure they are correctly interpreted by physicians. The entire team stays up to date on IAC’s changing standards and makes continuous improvements.
“I personally recall many years of the recertification process as a former member of the lab since 1997,” said David Del Pizzo, interim associate chief operating officer, Ambulatory Operations. “We continue to employ highly skilled and talented technologists who conduct the highest quality vascular testing. Congratulations for your unwavering commitment and continually achieving the highest standards in quality and excellence.”
