Pinehurst Surgical has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice.

Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualification of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment.

The surveyors report their findings to the ACR's Committee on Accreditation, which then provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

"Our accreditation by the ACR demonstrates Pinehurst Surg-ical's commitment to quality care and patient safety, and sets our practice apart," said Pinehurst Surgical CEO Bill Edsel. "This is a rigorous review process to meet nationally accepted standards of care, and our staff worked very hard to achieve this accreditation."

Accreditation through the eyes of a patient signifies the facility has voluntarily participated in a rigorous review process to meet national accepted standards, the personnel are qualified to perform the test, and the equipment meets quality assurance and safety guidelines, according to a news release.

Pinehurst Surgical partners with Alliance Imaging to offer MRI services to its patients Monday through Friday and on Saturday until 1 p.m. in the facility's imaging center at 5 FirstVillage Drive.

The results of the imaging test are digitally generated, received and stored.

In many cases, the ordering physician may see the results of the test before the patient leaves the office.

Pinehurst Surgical has also installed SkyTiles above the MRI to help ease the patient's uneasiness during the testing. SkyTiles are lighted photographic illusions which are installed in the ceiling providing a sense of comfort for the patient.