Survey of hospital-based echocardiography services.

A survey of policies and procedures for delivering echocardiography services in acute-care hospitals in the state of Illinois was performed to define the present state of the art. Indications for ordering an echocardiographic study were relatively uniform, as the normalized, annual number of transthoracic echocardiograms performed were similar throughout the state. Training criteria for becoming an echocardiography physician-interpreter, although published by national societies, were variable. Sonographer training was predominantly provided through an informal apprenticeship system, and both physician and sonographer continuing medical education requirements were minimal. Echocardiogram reports were primarily generated by free text dictation or transcription and were transmitted to the ordering physician in a variety of ways. There was no agreement regarding what diagnosis constituted a "stat value." National specialty societies such as the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography should address these issues to assist physicians and hospitals in improving their echocardiography services.