The ACR Practice Accreditation Program for radiation oncology

Quality assurance, an issue receiving great attention in medicine of late, has its origins in the consumerism of the mid 60's and in the budgetary problems which became more pronounced following the oil embargo of the 1970's. Consumerism, initially concerned with product safety, eventually extended to the patient/doctor relationship. Physicians became providers of healthcare, and as such were increasingly viewed as liable for the results of that care. A bad result implied bad care. The rate of malpractice claims began to increase, with a concomitant increase in malpractice insurance premiums. This upward pressure on medical costs came at a time of economic crisis, related in part to increasing oil costs, competition from foreign manufacturers, and rising national debt. It was inevitable, therefore, that those who pay for medical care (private insurers and the government) would look for ways to ensure that the care they were buying was both necessary and of good quality.