It's not about the errors, it's about the learning: How the Royal College of Radiologists has developed a Radiology Events and Learning process in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is based in the United Kingdom but is a global organisation with members and fellows worldwide. In this invited article, the chair of the RCR Radiology Events and Learning (REAL) panel recounts his experience in looking at radiological errors. He starts with his personal work auditing his own mistakes as a junior consultant, describes what he learned in his departmental role in a large teaching hospital running a Radiology Events and Learning Meeting (REALM) and gives an overview of some of the work done over the last two decades by the RCR. This includes publishing national guidelines which set standards for running a REALM, setting up the REAL panel which produces a quarterly newsletter of cases from RCR members, and running an annual conference to share information with local radiology departments around the country. A review of the literature describing the drivers for this work and looking at the parallels with industry lies alongside the practical tips he found useful which he hopes would be helpful to anyone setting up their own departmental errors or discrepancy meeting.