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Hanover County’s Only Cardiology Practice Offering Cardiac PET Earns National Accreditation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Newly expanded Bell Creek facility joins VCS’s IAC-accredited CT program, reinforcing quality across the practice’s advanced cardiac imaging
MECHANICSVILLE, VA (November 10, 2026) Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists (VCS), Central Virginia’s largest independent cardiology practice, today announced that its newly expanded Bell Creek facility has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Nuclear Cardiology and PET. The facility, located at 7515 Right Flank Road in Bell Creek Medical Park, opened in July with approximately 12,000 square feet of added space and made VCS the only cardiology practice in Hanover County to offer cardiac PET imaging.
IAC accreditation is earned through a rigorous peer-review process. Facilities complete a detailed self-evaluation, followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts who assess technologist training and credentials, equipment, quality assessment metrics, and representative case studies with their final reports. Accreditation provides independent assurance that patients seen at VCS’s Bell Creek location receive testing that meets nationally recognized standards.
“Physicians and patients need to trust that every image and every report is accurate, complete, and timely,” said Dr. Dean Caven, VCS President. “Earning IAC accreditation so soon after opening our expanded Bell Creek facility shows that our new space was built around quality from day one.”
VCS’s cardiac testing team of highly skilled, credentialed technologists led the accreditation effort, documenting protocols, quality measures, and case studies for review while also launching cardiac PET services at the new facility.
“Accreditation is a team achievement,” said Brigette Terrell, VCS Executive Director. “Our technologists brought the same precision to every protocol and every case review that they bring to every patient. I’m proud that their work has been recognized by the IAC.”
The Bell Creek accreditation builds on recognition VCS received earlier this year, when the IAC reaccredited the VCS CT Department in Richmond for a three-year term in Vascular CTA, Coronary CTA, and Coronary Calcium Scoring. Together, these accreditations cover the full range of VCS’s advanced noninvasive cardiac imaging, from calcium scoring and coronary CT angiography to nuclear stress testing and cardiac PET.
For patients, IAC accreditation is a trusted “seal of approval” and a sign of a facility’s dedication to consistent quality care and continuous improvement.
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About Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists (VCS) is Central Virginia’s largest independent cardiology practice, with 39 board-certified cardiologists serving patients across nine locations in the Greater Richmond area. For nearly 50 years, VCS has been a trusted leader in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cardiovascular disease. With a long history of bringing advanced diagnostics, innovative treatments, and minimally invasive procedures to Central Virginia, VCS continues to advance cardiovascular care in the communities it serves. Visit our website www.vacardio.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)
The IAC is a nonprofit organization that evaluates and accredits facilities providing diagnostic imaging, interventional and therapeutic procedures. Its programs support one common mission: Improving health care through accreditation®. Since its inception in 1991, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites. To learn more, visit intersocietal.org.
Published November 10, 2026