Newswise — On November 6, 2013, the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, received laboratory accreditation with exemplary status through the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine’s (AANEM) Electrodiagnostic Laboratory Accreditation Program. While the AANEM has accredited 156 electrodiagnostic (EDX) laboratories in the United States since its 2011 launch, the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is the first EDX laboratory outside of the country to receive accreditation.

AANEM Director of Professional Standards Seng Vang said, “AANEM Laboratory Accreditation is viewed as the gold standard for EDX labs among providers. We welcome accreditation applicants from Canada and U.S.-government owned labs located overseas.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by the AANEM as a lab that upholds the standard of electrodiagnostic medicine,” said Major Alan Larsen, DO, Chief of Neurology at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. “In addition, it is an honor to be recognized not only as the first accredited lab outside the United States but also as the first accredited lab within the United States military."

The AANEM used best practice EDX standards to establish its laboratory accreditation criteria to ensure patients receive quality medical care in a safe environment. Laboratory accreditation provides patients, referral sources, and payers with a credible measure to differentiate the laboratory’s quality of care.

The accreditation standards evaluate the EDX providers’ education and certification, diagnostic services, and clinical operations essential to providing quality patient care. AANEM announced its first accredited laboratories in 2011 and will continue to work with EDX providers on accrediting additional laboratories.

AANEM is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine. For more information about AANEM, or to learn more about laboratory accreditation, visit www.aanem.org.

Journal Link: AANEM