engleski

A model of establishment and implementation of the quality assurance programme in diagnostic radiology in a multi-facility region

Quality assurance (QA) programme in diagnostic radiology is an organized effort by the staff operating a facility to ensure that the diagnostic images produced are of sufficiently high quality so that they consistently provide adequate diagnostic information at the lowest possible cost and with the least possible exposure of the patient to radiation (WHO). Quality control (QC) is a part of the QA programme and QC procedures are used for testing and maintenance of the various parameters of the ionizing radiation system. QA programme on using ionizing radiation is mandatory in all EU member states. The terms of use of ionizing radiation for medical purposes are defined by the Croatian regulatory body since 2009. However, in diagnostic and interventional radiology this is still not implemented in most facilities. One of the main reasons is a lack of medical physicists. All radiotherapy departments have a medical physicist employed, most nuclear medicine departments also, but in diagnostic and interventional radiology the situation is quite opposite. At this moment, less than 4 medical physicists are involved in diagnostic and interventional radiology. Since 2012., when a physicist was introduced to radiology department at University hospital Rijeka, a lot of progress has been made and it is still an ongoing process. Development and establishment of quality assurance programme was set up as a primary goal at the time. Encouraged by the results of QA implementation at our hospital, we decided to make a strong effort on building awareness on the importance of such programme to both, professionals and general public, as it is also one of the responsibilities of a medical physicist. As a result of this effort, the public health institutions in west Croatian region became strongly interested on developing and implementing a QA programme, but it was not possible since they had no medical physicist. Since the efforts of our Medical Physics Department for optimized, responsible and safe use of ionizing radiation in medicine at UH Rijeka was well publicly presented and recognized, call for help and cooperation outside our mother institution was received and accepted by hospital board. A working group was formed with the task to find a solution for their situation. It was decided to establish a technical collaboration between institutions and agreed which actions medical physicists from University hospital Rijeka will perform in all facilities. This included 1 general hospital and 2 public health institutions with 13 facilities. After the validation of technical performance of the equipment, our current task is the process of optimization. It is an important part of a QA programme that has a goal to find balance between satisfactory diagnostic information and the lowest possible radiation exposure. A model of establishment and implementation of quality assurance programme in diagnostic radiology in multi-facility region will be presented.

quality assurance, diagnostic radiology

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