An International Survey of Quality and Safety Programs in Radiology

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• International Health

Background:

• Quality improvement programs are crucial for optimizing patient care in radiology.
• Understanding the global status of these programs is essential for identifying best practices and areas for development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of radiology quality improvement initiatives across various countries.
• To identify commonalities and differences in quality program implementation globally.

Main Methods:

• A 51-question survey was developed by the American College of Radiology's International Economics Committee.
• The survey, focusing on 12 quality initiatives across four themes (departments, users, equipment, outcomes), was distributed to committee members representing their respective countries.
• Respondents indicated the presence and characteristics of quality initiatives within their nations.

Main Results:

• A 100% response rate was achieved, representing 12 diverse nations including Australia, Canada, China, and the United States.
• The most prevalent quality initiatives were imaging appropriateness and disease registries (91.7%), followed by key performance indicators and morbidity/mortality rounds (83.3%).
• Initiatives like Lean/Kaizen exercises and physician performance assessments were least common (25.0%).

Conclusions:

• Significant diversity exists in global radiology quality improvement programs.
• While national and international organizations exert some influence, further guidance could foster greater uniformity and improve patient care standards worldwide.