BSE Departmental Accreditation

The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) exists to promote the study and advancement of cardiac ultrasound. Established in 1990 the BSE is the largest professional body to be affiliated to the British Cardiac Society.

In order to provide a service that is both quality focused and evidence based, Echotech adheres to BSE guidance and recommendations.

BSE Departmental Accreditation
Echotech is proud to hold Departmental Accreditation from the BSE. This was awarded in August 2008 following a comprehensive assessment of clinical and operational procedures.

Echotech is the only Independent Sector provider of echocardiography services to be awarded this distinction.

Furthermore, only a minority of Secondary Care Departments have achieved BSE Departmental Accreditation due to the stringent quality control requirements of the pass criteria.

This certification recognises Echotech’s robust approach to clinical audit and quality assurance.

BSE Guidelines and Recommendations

1. Minimum Dataset
All Echotech scans are full investigations and adhere to the BSE Education Committee recommendations for 'a minimum dataset for a standard adult transthoracic echocardiogram'. BSE Education Committee October 2005

2. Chamber & Valve Quantification
All reports adhere to strict reporting guidelines which have been devised to promote both the quality and consistency of all Echotech reports. The Echotech reporting guidelines include reference values detailed in the BSE guideline for chamber and valve quantification.
BSE Education Committee May 2008

3. Community Echocardiography for Heart Failure
The Echotech service complies with key elements in the BSE guidance 'Community Echocardiography for Heart Failure'
Br.JCardiol.2004;11:399-402

Organisation of services should be based around a BSE accredited department

PCTs and Hospital Trusts must recognise that the needs for echocardiography extend beyond service delivery to include quality assurance, training and continuing education

There is no place for using portable systems in the absence of adequate training or outside an organised echocardiography service

The BSE accredited department and community echocardiographer should have an electronic link for second opinions, quality assurance and clinical back-up

Links:

minimum dataset for a standard adult transthoracic echocardiogram

BSE Community Echo for Heart Failure - Consensus Statement