Accreditation Application Review Process

Preliminary Check
Upon receipt of your application, a member of the accreditation staff checks the application to ensure all sections are complete, the accreditation agreement is signed, and the required number of case studies has been submitted. If any portion of the application is incomplete, the practice will be notified and given an opportunity to submit the missing documentation before the application is sent out for review.
Application Review
Once a practice's application has passed the preliminary check for completion, it is forwarded, along with the case studies, to a document reviewer and 2 independent case reviewers. AIUM reviewers are experienced sonographers and sonologists from accredited practices who have attended reviewer training sessions to ensure uniform review of all applications.
Findings Report
When the results are received from the reviewers, a findings report is compiled. This report includes all findings and recommendations from the review team. The practice is allowed to respond, clarify, or resubmit any documentation before the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council determines the final accreditation status.
Accreditation Approval
When a practice has successfully completed the application process, the practice receives a certificate of accreditation from the AIUM citing recognition of this significant achievement. The practice also is provided with a public relations package that gives instructions on how to publicize this achievement, as well as brochures for distribution to patients. The practice is added to the directory on the AIUM website for patients looking for an accredited practice.
Accreditation Denial
If a practice is denied accreditation, the practice may request a hearing before an Appeals Hearing Panel. The panel consists of members of the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council who were not involved in the initial review of the practice's application. The panel will determine whether the practice's deficiencies are supported by substantial evidence to warrant accreditation denial. The panel will notify the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council chair of the panel's findings and recommendations. Upon receipt of the final decision, the chair of the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council officially notifies the practice's physician director of ultrasound.
Probation or Withdrawal of Accreditation
Failure to comply with the Standards for Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices will result in probation or withdrawal of a practice's accreditation. Prior to being placed on probation, a practice is given 60 days to respond in writing to cited deficiencies. Probationary accreditation is not subject to appeal. If practice accreditation is withdrawn, a practice may reapply for accreditation when in compliance with the Standards.

Site Visits
Site visits are not usually required, but practices applying for accreditation may be visited by an on-site review team if the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council determines that further evaluation is needed. Practices with more than 10 sites and/or mobile units do require a site visit. The cost of the site visit will be kept to a minimum but will be the responsibility of the practice. The cost will include the site visitors' lodging, meals, transportation, and a $500 administrative fee.

Random site visits for quality assurance also may occur. Practices are not expected to cover the costs of random site visits.

All site visits will be announced and confirmed with the practice being visited.

Site visitors are experienced sonographers and sonologists who have met established criteria by attending training sessions to ensure uniform evaluation of the practice based on established accreditation criteria.