Echocardiography Laboratory at Westfield Cardiology

The echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that gives the doctor information about the size of the heart chambers, the thickness of the walls, the heart's pumping strength, valve function and other heart conditions. It is a very safe and painless procedure which does not require any special preparation from the patient.

Echocardiograms are performed in our office at 48 E. Silver St. The test takes about 45 minutes during which you will be asked to change into a comfortable gown. Several electrodes are attached to your chest to monitor your heartbeat. A certified echocardiographer will take images of your heart while you are resting on a special exam table.

The digital pictures of your heart will be reviewed on the same day by Dr. Pajouh, who has been certified by the National Boards of Echocardiography. He will provide your Primary Care Physician with an official report of the findings.  

Echocardiographer Debbie Sarju with our GE Vivid 7 Echomachine.

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL)

Press Release Dec. 11, 2007

"One American dies every 32 seconds of cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing society over 83.7 billion dollars each year in health services, medications and lost work time due to disability.  Cardiac structure and flow information provided by echocardiographic testing is useful in the detection and management of many types of heart disease.  This noninvasive test has become one of the standard diagnostic tools in cardiology with an estimated 10 million echocardiograms performed annually in the United States.  Echocardiography is a complex imaging technique that relies on the experience and training of both the physician and sonographer.  Their interpretive and technical abilities determine the diagnostic accuracy of an echocardiographic examination.  The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) has developed an accreditation program which evaluates the quality of these and other critical elements of an echocardiography laboratory.

Westfield Cardiology, LLC located in Westfield, MA was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). The laboratory is one of the first one thousand echocardiography laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be so recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provision of quality diagnostic testing.

The ICAEL was established with the support of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) to provide a peer review mechanism to encourage and recognize the provision of quality echocardiographic diagnostic evaluations by a process of voluntary accreditation.  A non-profit organization, the ICAEL is dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting health care.

Participation in the accreditation porcess is voluntary. Accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency which recognizes the laboratory's commitment to quality testing for the diagnisis of heart disease."