Tag Archives: accreditation

Introduction Table 1. The British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) standards for cardiac rehabilitation (CR)1 In 2012, the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) published guidance for the service standards and core components (SCCs) for the delivery of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) in the UK (table 1).1,2 The SCCs were evidence based3-5 and set out seven core components (figure 1) that aimed to ensure delivery of a quality assured, high-standard CR programme.1 Publishing guidance on a set of national service standards is obviously important, however, measuring the

This focus on echocardiography is to be welcomed. But who is to perform these additional echocardiograms and what sort of studies will be performed? The standard adult transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) has stood the test of time. When performed by appropriately trained individuals, e.g. those holding BSE Accreditation,1 it can reliably describe and quantitate left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, structure and function of all four valves, basic prosthetic valve function, common congenital abnormalities and cardiomyopathies, and the presence and significance of pericardial fluid. Importantly, it can provide an answer to the two mo