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ICAEL accreditation is offered in the following testing areas:
- Adult Transthoracic
- Adult Transesophageal
- Adult Stress
- Pediatric Transthoracic
- Pediatric Transesophageal
- Fetal
The Accreditation Process
Designed to serve laboratories as an educational tool, ICAEL accreditation is made up of two crucial steps. First, laboratories conduct a detailed self-evaluation using the ICAEL Standards and the application. Completion of the application requires detailed information on all aspects of laboratory operation as well as the submission of actual case studies for review. The case studies are crucial in determining the laboratory's compliance with the Standards, and are the basis for judgment of the quality of work that laboratories perform. Once the self-evaluation is completed, the documents and case studies are reviewed by the ICAEL Board of Directors. All aspects of the review are confidential.
Accreditation Decisions
Each application submitted to the ICAEL undergoes a simultaneous, independent review conducted by two application reviewers. Read more about the process»
The ICAEL Board of Directors reviews the findings and renders an accreditation decision:
- Grant
- Delay
- Site Visit
- Deny (No application for accreditation is ever initially denied; laboratories first receive a notification of a delay or a site visit).
The ICAEL advises each laboratory of its accreditation decision via a personalized notification letter. This letter, sent to the Medical and Technical Directors, details the accreditation decision and when required, requests any additional documentation to further support adherence to the ICAEL Standards. Read more about the various accreditation decisions»
Maintaining Compliance — Random Site Visits & Audits
In an effort to further substantiate continued compliance by accredited laboratories and in response to the requirements sanctioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for CMS appointed Accreditation Organizations as part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), the IAC has implemented a policy requiring all accredited laboratories to undergo an audit or site visit at some time during their three-year accreditation period. Read more about random site visits and audits»
IAC Agreement
Effective 1/1/10: Applications submitted to the IAC must be accompanied by a current, completed IAC Accreditation Agreement (current published version is 8/2011) in order to receive an accreditation decision. Obtain instructions, read important information and download the IAC Agreement on the IAC website»
Accreditation Fee
Access to the ICAEL Accreditation Application is now free of charge. Applicant laboratories are only charged the accreditation fee, due at the time of application submission. The laboratory will be sent an e-mail with a link to the website to download the application and given a user ID and password. Read more about Accreditation Fees»
Facilities with Multiple Sites (Fixed and/or Mobile)
The ICAEL provides a pathway for eligible facilities with multiple sites (fixed and/or mobile) to apply for accreditation with one application and reduced fees for additional sites.
Read more about Multiple Sites» |
