Quality initiatives: Quality improvement in radiology: basic principles and tools required to achieve success

All imaging departments are expected to establish and maintain effective quality, safety, and performance improvement programs. Essential components of such programs include adherence to the basic principles of quality management and appropriate utilization of quality tools. The initial step is the gathering of relevant information, followed by the collection and analysis of quality and performance data; analysis and ranking of causes that likely contributed to a process failure, error, or adverse event; and prioritization and local implementation of solutions, with careful monitoring of newly implemented processes and wider dissemination of the tools when a process proves to be successful. Quality improvement requires a careful, dedicated, and continuously planned effort by a number of skilled and committed team members, with the goal being to do the right thing in a timely fashion in every case. This process can be sustained by offering rewards and celebrating successes, with all lessons learned disseminated throughout the department or organization.