J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Emergency Department accredited in clinical ultrasound

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Emergency Department (ED) received accreditation of its ultrasound program on Oct. 24. 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. 

The Ruby Memorial Hospital ED provides point-of-care ultrasound to assist its physicians in providing 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 Ruby Memorial 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. 

“We are very fortunate to work with a talented and dedicated team bringing these services to the bedside, where critical patient care decisions are made,” Joseph Minardi, M.D., director of WVU Medicine point-of-care ultrasound, said.

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.

For more information on the Emergency Department at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, click here.