News at UI Health

The Electromyography (EMG) Laboratory in the Neurosciences Clinic at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System has been accredited with exemplary status by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). This makes UI Health Neurology's EMG Lab one of the eight accredited labs in the state, in addition to being one of four in Chicago that is accredited by the AANEM.

Lawrence Zeidman, MD, certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, is the laboratory's medical director. He is joined in the lab by six other subspecialty board-certified neurologists and physiatrists. The accreditation includes the main EMG lab in the UI OCC and the satellite laboratory in Elmhurst.

Exemplary Status is the highest level of accreditation an EDX laboratory can achieve under the AANEM Accreditation Program. To be awarded Accreditation with Exemplary Status, physicians performing studies in the laboratory must:

• Complete a neurology or physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program
• Complete a minimum of three months of training in EDX medicine as part of a residency or fellowship program
• Complete certification by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM), the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in clinical neurophysiology, or by the ABPN/American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in neuromuscular disease

Our EMG Laboratory accreditation provides patients, referral sources, and payers with a credible measure to differentiate the laboratory's quality of care. The accreditation standards evaluate the diagnostic services and clinical operations essential to providing quality patient care, which include:

• Clinical staff qualifications and continuing education
• Physical facilities
• EDX equipment
• Protocols for performing EDX studies
• Patient reports
• Policies for ensuring the health and safety of every patient