The role of comprehensive clinical audits in quality improvement in diagnostic radiology

Abstract

There is much interest in QA processes and quality improvement in diagnostic radiology, driven by a number of factors. These include the high cost of radiological equipment, the ever increasing complexity of examination equipment and examination procedures due to technical advances, an acknowledgement of the possibility of increasing doses to patients, and the importance of radiological diagnosis to patient management within the health care. The importance of these matters has been acknowledged within Europe through a European Council directive and by the International Atomic Energy Agency through the development of the QUAADRIL audit process. Clinical audit involves evaluation of data, documents and resources to check performance against standards. It is essentially a process of fact finding and interpretation and, as such, provides an efficient tool for improvement of quality. The purpose of a multidisciplinary clinical audit can be generally summarized as to improve the quality of patient care; promote the effective use of resources; enhancing the provision and organization of clinical services; and to further professional education and training The principles and criteria for good practice of the medical physics aspects of radiology involve the available facility infrastructure, radiation protection and safety, imaging equipment QA processes, optimization in clinical practice, dosimetry, and instrumentation and calibration. All policies and procedures should be documented and regularly updated, and be available to staff at all times. This presentation will describe the QUAADRIL clinical audit process and summarise some of the key findings from the application of the audit tool in various centres worldwide.