If you have specific questions about the application process for accreditation, contact the acr or iac on their websites or by phone. Employing these guidelines helps providers enhance quality of care and contribute to the most efficacious use of radiology. Design an effective qc program incorporating the acr and joint commission requirements. By displaying the gold seals of acr accreditation, you can demonstrate to your patients, payers and referring physicians that you are committed to. Acr ct accreditation program and the lung cancer screening program designation. With this new userfriendly system, acr accreditation customers have a single place where they can access all of the accreditation resources they need, plus a helpdesk to submit queries and support requests. These documents meet or exceed the requirements of the standards, and they may be used to develop facility policies and reporting forms, whether your facility is seeking accreditation or simply working to standardize or improve current practices. The acr lung cancer screening center designation will remain effective for the duration of the units ct accreditation period, as long as the unit maintains acr ct accreditation of the chest module. By displaying the gold seals of acr accreditation, you can demonstrate to your patients, payers and referring physicians that you are committed to providing the safest and best quality care possible. Designed to meet the needs of todays radiologists and mri technologists, musculoskeletal mri positioning and protocols. We offer accreditation programs in mammography, ct, mri, breast mri, nuclear medicine and pet, ultrasound, breast ultrasound, and.
The intersocietal accreditation commission iac accredits imaging facilities and hospitals specific to ct. Acr practice parameter for performing and interpreting diagnostic. Lung cancer screening center american college of radiology. The acr offers accreditation programs in ct, mri, breast mri, nuclear medicine and pet as mandated under the medicare improvements for patients and providers act mippa as well as for modalities mandated under the mammography quality standards act mqsa. Technique parameters anatomic coverage artifacts examination identification. Acr ct accreditation program dose limits based solely on ctdi vol not dlp two levels. Quality control of ct image using american college of radiology. The acr lung cancer screening center designation is built upon the acr ct accreditation program and requires use of lungrads or a similar structured reporting and management system. Overview accreditation american college of radiology. Our client base ranges from small businesses to large corporations. Confirm that ct techniques for adult head, abdomenpelvis, chest, and pediatric head and pediatric abdomen exams are at or below the reference levels suggested by the acr currently 75, 25, 21, 40, and 20. Details regarding this method of submission will be provided to sites in the testing instructions for the aforementioned modalities. Computed tomography equipment is available in portable document format pdf, 23kb, 8pg.
The new acr ct quality control manual is free to acraccredited facilities. Accreditation application and evaluation are typically completed within 90 days. Complete list of acr practice parameters organized by modality. We also analyzed images of the acr ct accreditation phantom with the corresponding protocols.
Acrspr technical standard for diagnostic procedures using radiopharmaceuticals. To avoid a lapse in the designation, renewal should submitted at the time of ct accreditation renewal. Acr diagnostic modality accreditation program overview. Changes from revision 2 to revision 3 as part of our ongoing uw madison ct protocol optimization, we have made the following changes between the revision 2 and revision 3 release. Acr practice parameters promote the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology by describing specific training, skills and techniques. All items in bold in the technique parameters and anatomic coverage sections below are required to successfully achieve accreditation. Acr accreditation is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging. Acr ct accreditation program and the lung cancer screening. Browse the acr catalog for educational products, online learning, print materials, and coursesmeetings and more. Acr spr practice parameter for the performance of computed tomography ct of the abdomen and computed tomography ct of the pelvis res.
Acr asnrspr practice parameter for the performance of magnetic resonance imaging mri of the pediatric spine res. Acr aserscbtmrspr practice parameter for the performance of pediatric computed tomography ct res. American college of radiology acrmembership acr get. In addition to accreditation, all radiologists and radiology centers in new york ny and new jersey nj, who are. Nps was determined by taking the 3d fft of the uniformity section of the acr phantom. It outlines ct protocols for diagnostic imaging currently applied to ou ct scanners. Click on a button below to find the articles most relevant to your needs. Use and submit a lowdose ct protocol that meets the criteria outlined in the acr society of thoracic radiology practice parameter for the performance and reporting of lung cancer screening thoracic ct.
Users will be able to view jacr articles, complete their sacme activities, and print their certificates, all seamlessly. Purpose this guide describes the type and extent of information and standards by which the new york state department of health will evaluate computed tomography ct. The following documents are radiology protocols for all medical imaging sites at which tra medical imaging is responsible for the administration, quality and interpretation of medical imaging examinations. The volume contains a detailed technical section and covers the prevailing investigations of the brain, neck, lungs and chest, abdomen with parenchymal organs and gastrointestinal tract, the musculoskeletal system and cta as well as dedicated protocols for the heart. Practical tips, artifact examples, and pitfalls to avoid med. In 2010, the alliance for quality computed tomography working group was formed to provide information to ct users that enhances the quality of their ct practice. Whenever i give a lecture or presentation the most commonly asked question is whats your protocol. Acr membership is available to physicians who are certified in a radiological discipline, including nuclear medicine physicians, certified medical physicists and physicians and medical physicists who are practicing a radiological discipline and have completed an approved residency program and are otherwise eligible for membership as well. Standard imaging protocols diagnostic radiology services. At data spectrum, we strive to produce products that meet and exceed the requirements put forth by the acr. The mission of image gently is radiation safety in pediatric imaging to improve safe and effective imaging care of children worldwide like. Guide for radiation safetyquality assurance programs.
The acr is currently offering an option to submit images in electronic format for facilities that are applying for ultrasound, mri, ct clinical images only, nuclear medicine or pet module accreditation. The membership includes academic and consulting medical physicists who specialize in ct imaging, representatives of each of the major ct scanner manufacturers, and liaisons to the. Acr diagnostic imaging accreditation the physicist role by dina hernandez bsrt, rt r ct qm. The acr has developed a set of tools necessary for radiologists to take the lead on the front lines of lung cancer screening.
Acr computed tomography quality control manual will be developed in the future. To help answer those questions we have put together our protocols as well as adding ct scan protocols from other institutions that we thought might prove useful. It is awarded only to facilities meeting acr practice guidelines and technical. No passfail criteria are provided for any of the tests. Understand the dynamics of spectral ct and the role it plays in the clinical setting. Acr and american society of neuroradiology statement on ct. Practice parameters and technical standards american college of. Practical procedures for achieving and maintaining acr ct accreditation accreditation of computed tomography systems is increasingly important as reimbursements become tied to the successful achievement and maintenance of accreditation status. Analysis of ct simulator images showed that image quality was within acr guidelines for all tested scanning protocols. Radiology societies urge president to speed ppe resupply. If the site applied for adult only accreditation, a pediat ric protocol and dose measurement is not necessary. Each module is 4 cm in depth and 20 cm in diameter.
To evaluate image quality the acrct accreditation program was used. Acraapm technical standard for management of the use of radiation in fluoroscopic procedures. Accreditation is required for providers that bill for ct under part b of the medicare physician fee schedule. Examination protocols should apply the principle of minimizing radiation doses to as low as reasonably achievable alara. For instance, if you are applying for ct accreditation, you must submit copies of your written protocols for the examinations on your application, as. Ct body chest colonography prep musculoskeletal neuro pedi protocols. The acr offers accreditation programs in ct, mri, breast mri, nuclear medicine and pet as mandated under the medicare improvements for patients and. Ct headscan dosimetry in an anthropomorphic phantom and.
Define how radiation dose from ct units is measured and controlled. Sample documents mri the iac is pleased to include sample documents to assist facilities in providing quality care to their patients. Practical procedures for achieving and maintaining acr ct. The new phantom paradigm douglas pfeiffer, ms, dabr boulder community hospital introduction. Acr select is ready to incorporate into computerized ordering and ehr systems to guide providers when ordering medical imaging scans. Any attempt to reproduce, copy, modify, alter or otherwise change or use this document without the express written permission of the american college of radiology is prohibited. The upper extremity shows you exactly how to set up axial, sagittal and coronal planes for the joints of the upper extremity. Acr, tjc, iac, accreditation, ct, mri, pet, mqsa, fda. Scan parameters used in alignment of acr phantom in axial brain protocol. The categories for scoring clinical examinations submitted for acr ct accreditation are. The phantom the acr ct accreditation phantom is a solid phantom containing four modules, and is constructed primarily from a waterequivalent material. Acr updates guidelines for nema xr29 ct dose standard. Acr and american society of neuroradiology statement on ct protocols and radiation dose. The acr accreditation team recently unveiled a new customer support platform to enhance the accreditation experience.
For example, more than 50% of abdominal ct protocols do not currently adhere to the acr appropriateness criteria concerning anatomic coverage 1. American college of radiology imaging network cqie manual of procedures version 3. The volume contains a detailed technical section and covers the prevailing investigations of the brain, neck, lungs and chest, abdomen with parenchymal organs and gastrointestinal tract, the musculoskeletal system and cta as well as dedicated protocols. The american college of radiology accreditation overview. Missing information examination protocols technique. The acr has accredited more than 39,000 facilities in 10 imaging modalities. Given the rapid evolution of ct technology in the past decade, the number of applications for ct has expanded greatly and the techniques for performing the optimal exam have also increased. The scanners were set to operate with the same dataacquisition and imagereconstruction protocols as used clinically for typical head scans, respective of the practices of each facility for each scanner. Either include a screen save of the dose with the images, or enter the dose as displayed by the scanner in the clinical test image data sheet. Cnrs were calculated according to the steps described in acr ct phantom testing document. It seems standards are evolving to be similar to acr accreditation requirements. Implementation of the 2012 acr ct qc manual in a community. Simply physics has a success rate of 99% for over a thousand submissions.
Outline american college of radiology ct accreditation. I was really impressed that with three different things, it was scheduled in one day and i was done with all in 45 minutes. The phantom portion of the american college of radiology acr computed tomography ct accreditation program. Ct procedures and guidelines outlined in this document apply to all scanners to be.
The annual medical physicistmr scientist performance evaluation must include an assessment of. Acr gold standard of accreditation computer tomography ct. We offer accreditation programs in mammography, ct, mri, breast mri, nuclear medicine and pet, ultrasound, breast ultrasound, and stereotactic breast biopsy. On june 10, 20, the director of the center for devices and radiological health cdrh of the federal drug administration fda, jeffrey shuren, m. American association of physicists in medicine aapm working group recognized by the fda. This page is for physicians, inside and outside this institution, and ct technologists. Acr ct accreditation program and the lung cancer screening program designation article in journal of the american college of radiology 121 november 2014 with 342 reads how we measure reads. Standard imaging protocols this document includes typical imaging protocols for diagnostic imaging.
Acr asnrspr practice parameter for the performance of computed tomography ct of the brain res. Protocol design and optimization american college of radiology. The acr ct accreditation phantom has been designed to examine a. Participation by representatives from collaborating societies on the expert panel does not necessarily. Acr accreditation of nuclear medicine and pet imaging. Practice parameters and technical standards american. Radiography imaging standards manual orthopedic msk protocol trauma x protocol. The ct accreditation program was launched in 2002, with 6,870 facilities having achieved ct accreditation to date, including 6,744 sites being accredited with the thoracic imaging module. Acr program requirements all clinically used probes must be tested. Acr practice parameters promote the safe and effective use of diagnostic and. Acr technical standard for diagnostic medical physics. Roles and responsibilities oversee qc annual testing technology changesutilization 5 mm, 4i with a 10 mm table increment. Acr practice parameters and technical standards promote the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology by describing specific training, skills and techniques.
Acraapm practice parameter for reference levels and achievable administered activity for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. A phantom or test object is required, but no model or type is specified. As a result of recent changes in regulations related to health care privacy and personal data security, acr has. Updated acr ct quality control manual american college of. We also enhance the ct protocols with select instructive cases.
Radiographic standard operating protocols revision 7 active date. Do you ever get tired of calling patients back because the scan planes were not angled properly. The acr ct accreditation phantom has been designed to examine a broad range of scanner. From tjc, iac and acr accreditation to ct dose optimization and management. Ideally, each ct scan protocol would be designed to just meet the.
Practice parameters by modality american college of radiology. Starting december 14, 2018, all eligible sacme activities will be available through acrs cortex platform. Whether you have a specific question regarding ct accreditation, or need comprehensive information to help you prepare your application, this page will be useful in providing links to all articles relevant to the ct accreditation process. We aim to meeting your medical physics needs and exceeding your expectations by improving patient outcomes through the safe and effective use of radiation in medicine.
Image quality was assessed by calculating the contrast to noise ratio cnr and noise power spectrum nps from the acr ct accreditation phantom. Outline the development and optimization of ct protocols. Pediatric head ct open questions how many protocols and at what agesize ranges. Acr practice parameter for performing and interpreting magnetic resonance imaging mri res. Acr select, a digital representation of the acr appropriateness criteria for diagnostic imaging, is a module contained within careselect imaging. Prism physics offers quarterly onsite audits to ensure your facility is complying with all regulatory and licensing requirements, including. Practice parameters by modality american college of. For questions about oxfords accreditation requirements, call 180066653. Jan 16, 2006 this book provides structured uptodate information on all routine protocols used for multislice multidetector row ct. Different members of the imaging team and members of the community play different roles in using the image gently philosophy to ensure that radiology procedures in children are performed in the best way possible. Effective july 1, 2016, acr will discontinue support for browsers that do not meet minimum requirements for transmitting sensitive data. Acr ct accreditation clinical image quality guide ensure that your facilitys protocols meet the minimum requirements before continuing you will also need the following items from the acr website. Acr appropriateness criteria american college of radiology.
Using the acr ct accreditation phantom for routine image quality. Acr statement on recent studies regarding ct scans and increased cancer risk. Lp riccelli works closely with ohsu ct techs in the art of creating optimal images from current technology. Training on ge dst pet ct, ge spect and planar scanning equipment. Ucla radiology has been awarded a threeyear term of accreditation in computed tomography ct as the result of a recent.
The accreditation programs of the american college of radiology acr are the most established and widely proven for all imaging modalities. These guidelines and standards form the basis of the. Scan water or water equivalent phantom at all clinical kvps. Due to covid19, we strongly encourage that required accreditation forms are sent to the fax number or email address provided during the online application process. Petct technologist resume example hcsolutions brighton. Acr updates guidelines for nema xr29 ct dose standard february 28, 2017 the american college of radiology acr published updated guidelines regarding the nema xr29 mita smart dose standard, finally setting a clear and specific set of guidelines for an acceptable certificate of nema xr29 compliance. Whatever role you play in caring for children, you can pledge to image gently. American college of radiology acr appropriateness criteria. Paper forms sent through the mail may experience a processing delay. Iac ct accreditation is a means by which facilities can evaluate and demonstrate the level of patient care they provide. Filed for and obtained acr accreditation for mmp pet ct mobile unit at three different locations.
Compare ct exposures to currently developing diagnostic reference levels drls to compare your protocols to regional and national values. Advanced diagnostic imaging accreditation effective 1112 in order to bill under medicare part b, imaging centers became accredited in ct, mri, and nuclear medicine. The ct accreditation program involves submission of clinical and phantom images, dose measurements and scanning protocols. The purpose of these ct protocol pages is to provide a reference for radiology residents, fellows and technologists when prescribing a ct examination. The acr ct accreditation program requirements the acr ct accreditation clinical image quality guide the acr ct accreditation testing instructions the acr ct accreditation phantom testing instructions after reading these documents, and checking your protocols, you can apply online here. For additional information, see the acr guidance document on mr safe practices, 20 and the acr manual on contrast media. Mri quality control manual, 2004 american college of radiology. The acr subsequently developed programs for mri, ultrasound, ct, nuclear medicine, pet, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and biopsy, and breast mri. Aapm ct scan protocols the alliance for quality computed. The american college of radiology seeks and encourages collaboration with other organizations on the development of the acr appropriateness criteria through society representation on expert panels. Hence, imaging centers became acr accredited to get reimbursed. The american college of radiology accreditation overview dina hernandez rtr, qm, ct. The mri accreditation program evaluates staff qualifications, quality control, mr safety policies and image quality.