WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital ED is accredited by the ACEP Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program

WVU Medicine JW Ruby Memorial Hospital Emergency Department received accreditation of its ultrasound program on October 24, 2023. The program is one of a select few in the country to meet the standards developed by the Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

WVU Medicine JW Ruby Memorial Hospital Emergency Department provides point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency department to assist its physicians in providing excellent care to its patients. The emergency physicians can utilize ultrasound to safely guide them during complicated procedures and to expedite the correct diagnosis in life threatening conditions such as abdominal aneurysms, ectopic pregnancies, and internal bleeding. These diagnoses can be made in minutes ultimately resulting in faster treatment.

To achieve this accreditation, the physicians at WVU Medicine JW Ruby Memorial Hospital ED had to provide extensive documentation of their training and quality assurance measures. These were then reviewed by a national board of experts in emergency ultrasound. Accreditation by the Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program is given to programs that meet the high standards established by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Ultrasound testing has become an integral part of emergency care. When performed by properly trained emergency providers, it can provide essential information. For example, when used in patients after a car accident, it can quickly determine that the patient is bleeding internally and alert the doctors for the need for emergency surgery. It can also help find veins in patients where there is difficulty starting an IV. While many emergency physicians perform ultrasound, programs that achieve this accreditation have demonstrated a commitment to quality.