Update on the Organizational Aspects of Echocardiography in Italy (From Operator Training to the Report: 2007-2019): A Consensus Document by the "Società Italiana di Ecocardiografia e CardioVascular Imaging" Accreditation Area and Board 2017-2019

Abstract

In 2007, Società Italiana di Ecocardiografia e CardioVascular Imaging (SIECVI) already SIEC, published the document on the organization of echocardiography in Italy. In the years following the technological evolution, cultural and health factors have changed "the way, we do echo" as a tool for the different clinical pathways. The SIECVI Accreditation Area and Board 2017-2019 considered necessary to review and update the document in the light of innovation in the application of ultrasound for the heart disease assessment. In the document, we have considered the role of SIECVI in multimodal imaging, the need of training and certification of operators, the quality of echo machines, the accreditation of laboratories, the compilation of the report and its responsibility, and the presence of the sonographers in the EchoLab.

Keywords: Accreditation; certification; echocardiography.