Uniform Obstetrical-Ultrasound accreditation standard planned. (Different Standards at Present).

CANCUN, MEXICO -- Accreditation of the ultrasound imaging practices of ob.gyns. is available, but the standards are not set or endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Instead, accreditation is done by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AlUM) and by the American College of Radiology. Both groups base their accreditation decisions on their Standards for the Performance of Antepartum Obstetrical Ultrasound Examination. These two groups are now in the process of working with ACOG to draft a uniform, obstetrical-ultrasound accreditation standard, Dr. Joshua A. Copel said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law.

"ACOG says that ultrasound accreditation is a good idea, but it doesn't say that it has to be done," said Dr. Copel, director of obstetrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Ultrasound accreditation is also not required by Medicare, but accreditation for obstetricians and gynecologists is required by the California Department of Health Service's prenatal screening program and by certain insurance companies, he said.

The AIUM has separate standards for obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound imaging, as well as for breast and abdominal imaging. Accreditation is for 3 years and involves standards for personnel, facilities, record keeping, and quality assurance. In both obstetrics and gynecology, the minimum annual ...