Quality Assurance in Interventional Radiology

Abstract

W441 of potential risks and complications, and the use of external and internal benchmarks are essential to achieve a high level of care in IR. The SIR Standards of Practice Committee guidelines for establishing a quality improvement (QI) program [1] are as follows: form a quality committee; identify QA standards; understand the system and define processes; establish metrics and set threshold values; collect and analyze data; and initiate QI projects. Although continuous assessment of IR procedures can be more challenging than assessment of diagnostic studies, IR practices should base their data collection on the QI publications standards of the SIR [2]. In evaluation of an IR service for procedural care auditing parameters, the following should be included: appropriateness, efficacy and safety, and evaluation with indicator thresholds for a specific procedure. When indication and success rates fall below a minimum threshold or when complication rates exceed a maximum threshold, a review should be performed to determine causes and to implement changes, if necessary [2].