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Ultrasound practice accreditation is a voluntary peer review process that encourages practices to meet or exceed nationally recognized standards in the performance and interpretation of diagnostic ultrasound. Through accreditation, providers of diagnostic ultrasound services have an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses and initiate changes to improve their practices.

Practices accredited by the AIUM have demonstrated competency in every aspect of their operation, including education and training of physicians and sonographers, ultrasound equipment maintenance, document storage, policies safeguarding patients and personnel, and accuracy in diagnosis.

AIUM accreditation is granted to practices in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico for a 3-year period, after which the practice is reevaluated to ensure continuing compliance with the Standards for the Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices.

AIUM Accreditation

• Demonstrates clinical excellence
• Proves commitment to the highest quality patient care
• Provides credibility to peers
• Meets the quality assurance requirements of a growing number of insurance companies

The AIUM grants accreditation in the following areas:

• Abdominal/General Ultrasound
• Breast Ultrasound (Diagnostic and Interventional)
• Gynecologic Ultrasound
• Obstetric (Complete) and Trimester-Specific Obstetric Ultrasound

Personnel Education, Training, and Experience

• Physicians and sonographers must be qualified, as verified through education, credentials, experience, and continuing medical education.
• Nursing and ancillary services must be sufficient and available, when necessary, to ensure safe, high-quality patient care; and
• Clerical and administrative support must be adequate to guarantee an efficient operation and accurate record keeping.

Document Storage and Record Keeping

• Provisions must be made for the retrieval and storage of examination records of all studies performed.
• Documentation of every study must include permanent ultrasound images stored on suitable recording media.
• Reports must contain the information required in the Standards for the Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices.
• Records must be maintained for a period of time that meets or exceeds state requirements.

Policies and Procedures Safeguarding Patients, Ultrasound Personnel, and Equipment

• Policies and procedures must be in place to guarantee patient safety, patient confidentiality, proper management of patient complications, and prevention of infectious disease.
• Appropriate electrical inspection of equipment must be performed on a regular basis.
• Evidence of practicing the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle must exist.

Instrumentation

• Equipment maintenance and calibration must be regularly performed on all ultrasound equipment.
• Default settings must meet all federal requirements.

Quality Assurance

• Sonographic interpretation and report by the physician(s) must be correlated for accuracy with the final outcome.
• There must be a regular correlation of ultrasound diagnosis with clinical, radiographic, laboratory, surgical, and pathology findings.
• A plan must exist for the ongoing monitoring of the clinical practice and personnel performance for the accuracy and medical appropriateness of the examinations.

Case Studies and Supporting Documents
Case studies must follow the Standards for the Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices.