The Top 10 Reasons For A Delayed ICAVL Application

from the February 2007 issue

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5.) Incomplete staff information.

• Review staff qualification requirements and choose the most appropriate pathway. If any members of the medical or technical staff do not meet the minimum requirements of one of the qualification pathways, the entire application will be delayed until the staff member privileges are suspended and/or additional training is documented.
• Make sure all questions are answered and updated at the time of reaccreditation.
• Be certain all staff have signed the attestation page.

4.) Poor quality case studies.

• Cases often demonstrate poorly optimized equipment and techniques to include: b-mode/color adjustments, improper Doppler alignment, and inappropriate waveform scale/PRF adjustment.
• Be certain that the case study reproduction is clear and concise; use the medium that your lab uses on a daily basis (i.e., digital, film, videotape).

3.) Missing paperwork.

• Use the checklist and instructions included in the application:
  • All protocols and criteria must be submitted for an initial application and all subsequent reaccreditation applications
  • Appropriate number of case studies must be submitted for initial accreditation, reaccreditation, low testing volumes and multiple sites. The case study requirements are included in the application and on the ICAVL website (www.icavl.org/icavl/apply/casestudies.htm).


• Two sets of everything must be submitted:
  • Application pages
  • Attachments
  • Case studies

  
  Important: Group each set individually, but do not place in page protectors or binders.

2.) Lack of adherence to the diagnostic criteria/inaccurate final reports.

• Final reports must document adherence to the diagnostic criteria submitted with the application:
  • Categories of stenosis as written and validated in the criteria must be documented in the final reports (i.e., if the criteria range states 60-79%, the final report does not adhere to the criteria if interpreted as 65-70%)
  • Define secondary criteria and how it is applied
  • Avoid subjective terminology unless specified in the criteria and reports (i.e., critical vs. severe)
  • Appropriate waveform interpretation and terminology

And the number one cause for delay...

1.) Incomplete case study documentation.

• Cases must reflect the minimum requirements of the Standards (3.2.1.1/3.2.1.2) as well as the laboratory's protocol.

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