Women’s Health at Valley View has received accreditation from the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Commission of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine in the areas of gynecology and obstetrics. According to AIUM’s Directory of Accredited Practices, Women’s Health is the first on the Western Slope to earn this accreditation.

It’s one of only a few practices in Colorado to meet the demanding requirements set by the AIUM. “Our providers and sonographer have been working extremely hard to achieve this designation,” said Christine Page, director of Women’s Health.

“The review process was arduous,” said Ginny Minch, sonographer and high-risk pregnancy coordinator at Women’s Health. “As a practice, we decided that accreditation would be a good goal to aim for.” All facets of the practice were assessed, including the training and qualifications of physicians and sonographer; ultrasound equipment maintenance; documentation; storage, and record-keeping practices; policies and procedures to protect patients and staff; quality assurance methods; and the thoroughness, technical quality and interpretation of the sonograms the practice performs.

Ultrasounds are an important part of women’s health care and pregnancy care services. Utilizing sound waves, ultrasounds create computer-generated images that are noninvasive and considered safe. Pregnant women benefit greatly from ultrasound, which provides diagnostic images of a baby in the mother’s womb from soon after conception throughout the pregnancy. This allows providers to accurately date the pregnancy, provide early diagnosis of twins, screen for fetal anomalies, evaluate the placenta and determine an estimated fetal weight.

Women’s Health provides a wide range of services for women, starting in their teen years and continuing through menopause. Women’s Health has locations in Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Silt and Eagle.