Quantifying radiation safety and quality in medical imaging, part 3: the quality assurance scorecard

J Am Coll Radiol. 2009 Oct;6(10):694-700. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2009.05.009.

Abstract

The practice of medical imaging is fraught with inconsistency as it relates to quality assurance, which is due in part to the lack of standardization and objective quality-centric data. By applying the scientific methods of Shewhart and Deming to medical imaging quality assessment, one can devise an objective, data-driven quality model, encompassing the various steps and processes that take place within the medical imaging chain. Through automated recording, tracking, and analysis of these quality data elements, a quantitative scorecard can be derived that provides an objective measure of quality performance, relating to each individual process, participating stakeholder, and technology being used. Through meta-analysis of these quality-centric data, best practice guidelines can be created, which in turn promote quality as the major differentiating feature of service providers.

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging / standards*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / methods*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / standards*
  • Radiation Protection / standards*
  • Radiology / standards*
  • Safety Management / standards*
  • United States