Chapter 6 - Quality Improvement in Radiology

Abstract

The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program includes four parts. The fourth part is Practice Quality Improvement (PQI). The American Board of Radiology (ABR) lists several activities from which diplomates can choose in fulfilling the Part 4 requirements. A diplomate can complete PQI projects as an individual, in a group, or through an institution or organization. Completing at least one PQI project or activity is mandatory in each 3-year cycle. Diplomates who choose to do PQI projects may use any standard quality improvement methodology (including, but not limited to, plan-do-study-act [PDSA], Lean and Six Sigma, failure mode and effects analysis, and root cause analysis) to meet the MOC Part 4 requirements. Individual PQI projects consist of baseline and post-PQI PDSA cycles. Radiologists who choose to participate as a group should meet the standards for group PQI projects defined by the ABR. A few leading institutions have been approved by the ABR for MOC Part 4 credit. Quality improvement programs at these institutions encourage groups of multidisciplinary healthcare providers to participate together in projects of mutual interest. Implementing quality improvement projects can change the behavior of subjects. Investigators should be familiar with this phenomenon when performing and interpreting PQI projects.