Women’s Health Earns AIUM Ultrasound Practice Accreditation
First on the Western Slope
June 16, 2017, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO – Women’s Health at Valley View has received accreditation from the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Commission of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) in the areas of Gynecology and Obstetrics. According to AIUM’s Directory of Accredited Practices, Women’s Health is the first on the Western Slope to earn this accreditation. Additionally, it’s one of only a few practices in Colorado to meet the demanding requirements set by the AIUM. “Our providers and sonographer have been working extremely hard to achieve this designation,” praised Christine Page, director of Women’s Health, “it was truly a team effort and reflects our commitment to meet the highest standard for quality care and expertise in ultrasound.”
Women’s Health achieved this recognition by meeting rigorous voluntary guidelines set by the diagnostic ultrasound profession. “The review process was arduous,” said Ginny Minch, RDMS, WHNP, sonographer and high-risk pregnancy coordinator at Women’s Health.” “As a practice we decided that accreditation would be a good goal to aim for,” added Minch. All facets of the practice were assessed, including the training and qualifications of physicians and sonographer; ultrasound equipment maintenance; documentation; storage, and record-keeping practices; policies and procedures to protect patients and staff; quality assurance methods; and the thoroughness, technical quality and interpretation of the sonograms the practice performs.
“The accreditation speaks to the quality that we want to provide and maintain within our practice and for our community,” expressed Minch. Ultrasounds are an important part of women’s healthcare and pregnancy care services. Utilizing sound waves, ultrasounds create computer-generated images that are non-invasive and considered safe. Pregnant women benefit greatly from ultrasound, which provides diagnostic images of a baby in the mother’s womb from soon after conception throughout the pregnancy. This allows providers to accurately date the pregnancy, provide early diagnosis of twins, screen for fetal anomalies, evaluate the placenta and determine an estimated fetal weight. Gynecologic ultrasounds also allow for safe and painless imaging of the uterus and ovaries for investigation of disorders such as irregular bleeding, pelvic pain, or suspicion of the presence of a mass in the ovaries.
About Women’s Health
Women’s Health provides a wide-range of services for women every step of their healthcare journey, starting in their teen years and continuing through menopause. Our experienced team of OB/GYNs and Certified Nurse Midwives are dedicated to providing women with the highest quality of care and treatment options available. Women’s Health has locations in Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Silt and Eagle. For more information about hours, directions and services provided, visit vvh.org/womenshealth. For appointments call 970.945.2238.
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About Valley View Hospital
Valley View Hospital (VVH) was founded in Glenwood Springs in 1955 by a diverse group of people with a common goal, to bring healing to the Roaring Fork Valley. Today, a fully licensed, 78-bed, not-for-profit community hospital, Valley View continues as a leader in healthcare, providing a tradition of care that includes compassionate caregivers, remarkable clinical expertise and a philosophy of care that supports the mind, body and spirit. With a 20-acre campus, more than 200 physicians on staff, and 1,000 employees, Valley View has been recognized for performance excellence from Healthgrades, J.D. Power & Associates, Truven Health “Top 100 Hospital” and Consumer Reports. vvh.org