The recent "gold standard" accreditations at St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center are proof that patients receive the best imaging services available in the area, said Phil Kirmer, supervisor of Radiology.

The American College of Radiology has accredited St. Rose’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine services.

"We have been accredited by this prestigious organization in all three areas," Kirmer said. "This is definitely the gold standard in recognizing our personnel and equipment."

St. Rose began the accreditation process in September and was notified of its successes in recent weeks. These three-year accreditations mean that the facility is meeting Medicare and many other requirements.

"This was an intense and comprehensive review of our procedures," Kirmer noted. "There were many hours and many reports involved. Because we have met all requirements, our patients and their families can be assured they are getting the best imaging in Barton and surrounding counties. These accreditations are huge for St. Rose."

Lisa Lovins, St. Rose director of Radiology, gives all the credit to the staff for this success. The technologists are Kirmer and Rob Graham in nuclear medicine; Graham in CT; and Holly Ferguson in MRI.

"Each of these outstanding professionals put in long hours, long days," Lovins said. "They worked with our physicist, who worked on contract and guided us through the process.

"There are not enough words to describe the credit they deserve," she continued. "Their colleagues and the rest of the community should be proud of them and offer their congratulations."

The MRI produces images of any part of the body; nuclear medicine analyzes the functions of the organs; and the CT produces quick images in small slices.

St. Rose has the only 64-slice CT in Barton County, and no other entity in the county or immediate area has these accreditations, Lovins added.