Kenneth S. Rholl, MD, RVT, Assumes ICAVL Presidency

from the Spring 1999 issue

As the pioneer of intersocietal accreditation, the ICAVL has gained increasing support among the vascular community and the general public for its process of voluntary accreditation. For Kenneth S. Rholl, MD, RVT, who assumed the presidency of the ICAVL in January, this increased support and recognition presents a unique opportunity to give back to those who make the process work -- the staff of accredited laboratories throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

"The increased public awareness is a major benefit to ICAVL accredited laboratories. My top two priorities as President are to further heighten the recognition of voluntary accreditation and to see that accredited laboratories are able to reap the maximum possible benefit from their ICAVL accreditation and its exemplary reputation," Dr. Rholl said.

"We are currently taking steps to streamline the accreditation process. We have initiated research and development of a "run-time" accreditation program which will uphold the integrity of the application process while eliminating a large portion of the paperwork involved," Dr. Rholl said. "In addition, the ICAVL is developing a new database system that will aid our staff in maintaining the level of communication necessary to assist laboratories during, and following, the accreditation process. The new database will organize information by methods better suited to the current needs of our staff and to the demands of laboratories. In addition, some tasks will be automated under the new system, allowing increased time for document review and interaction with laboratories."

Dr. Rholl joined the ICAVL Board Of Directors in 1993 as a representative of the Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology (SCVIR). Over the years he has served as Treasurer and President-Elect and currently serves as one of two ICAVL representatives to the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), the ICAVL's parent organization.

Currently the Director of both the Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology Department and the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory at INOVA Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, Dr. Rholl is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Radiology at George Washington University in Washington, DC. In addition to his affiliations with the ICAVL and IAC, he is a member of SCVIR, the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Society of Vascular Technology (SVT), the Chesapeake Interventional Society and the Southeastern Angio Society. He has also earned the Registered Vascular Technologist credential through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

"As a Board, we have tried to focus on making the accreditation process work for the laboratories. The increased awareness of the value of ICAVL accreditation is reflected in Medicare policies and in the creation of similar accreditation programs in other medical fields. With the next millenium rapidly approaching, we are well positioned for continued growth of the recognition of ICAVL accreditation and for increased benefits to participating laboratories."

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