MOBILE, Ala. – USA Health Cardiovascular Surgery has achieved reaccreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in vascular testing.

Cardiovascular Surgery earned the three-year reaccreditation in the areas of extracranial cerebrovascular testing, peripheral arterial testing and peripheral venous testing. Vascular testing procedures at hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians’ offices make it possible to detect life-threatening heart disorders, stroke and other diseases early.

“This reaccreditation affirms our commitment to excellence in patient care,” said Carl Maltese, M.D., FACS, a USA Health board-certified cardiovascular surgeon and an associate professor of surgery at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. “The process also challenges us to keeping improving so that we provide the safest and most effective care for people with cardiovascular diseases.”

Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease, which includes disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Stroke, a disorder of the blood supply to the brain, is a leading cause of death and disability in the nation, with nearly 800,000 strokes occurring annually.

“To earn accreditation, a facility undergoes an intensive application and review process,” said William O. Richards, M.D., FACS, professor and chair of surgery at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “Patients can consider reaccreditation a seal of approval that Cardiovascular Surgery has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field.”

According to the IAC, many factors contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on vascular testing. The training and experience of the technologist performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure all contribute to a positive patient outcome.

Cardiovascular Surgery, formerly known as Cardiovascular Associates P.C., joined USA Health in 2024. In addition to Maltese, the practice’s board-certified cardiovascular surgeons include Dimitris Kyriazis, M.D., FACC, FACS, and Michael Damrich, M.D., FACS.

The office is located at 1901 Spring Hill Ave. in Mobile. To make an appointment, call 251-300-2240.

PHOTO: Granville Adams, RVS, RCS, conducts vascular testing at USA Health Cardiovascular Surgery, located at 1901 Spring Hill Ave. in Mobile, Alabama. The practice recently earned a three-year reaccreditation in vascular testing from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

About USA Health

USA Health, the health system for the University of South Alabama, the Flagship of the Gulf Coast, is the leading academic health system in the region. With more than 40 care delivery locations, including University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Providence Hospital and the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and physician practices throughout the area, the health system melds clinical care, research and healthcare education into the most advanced medical care in the region.