Sherif F. Nagueh, F.A.C.C., our ACC representative to the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) reported recently that during ICAEL’s July meeting, members debated the idea of a two-tier accreditation system in which there would be minimum accreditation requirements, as well as a higher level that offered recognition that a lab meets a higher level of quality. One benefit for labs achieving the higher tier of accreditation might be a longer period between accreditations. The ICAEL board has not made any decisions yet, but Dr. Nagueh encouraged us to share our thoughts.

The ACC leadership had strong consensus that this is a bad plan and lowers the standard for quality under the first tier. Bill Zoghbi, F.A.C.C., said, the two-tier system:

"Adds complexity to the process with little added benefit. Importantly it does not address the current situation: Although overall good, criteria for accreditation are still sub-par in some areas and with low penetration. The minimum standards for accreditation should indeed be minimum standards for good quality.”

Former ACC President Doug Weaver, M.A.C.C., adds that recently he heard of a dentist and a neurosurgeon opening a medical imaging center together. “This is what is wrong in American health care, and we need to support even higher standards than what exist today,” Doug said.