Guess what was discovered on November 8, 1895? The x-ray was accidentally discovered that day by Wilhelm Rontgen. This scientific accident won Mr. Rontgen the Nobel Peace Prize as it greatly changed the world. Every year on this day, that discovery is celebrated as the International Day of Radiology, which promotes the role of medical imaging in modern healthcare (to learn more, visit: International Day of Radiology).
What is meant by Radiology? Let’s look at some examples.
- Have you ever had a broken bone? Then you know about X-ray Radiography or Computed Tomography (CT).
- Have you ever had a child or been pregnant? Then you know about Ultrasound.
- Have you ever had an internal disease? Then you know about Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- Perhaps you or a loved one have had cancer? Then you likely know about Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
In short, Radiology is the medical discipline that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the bodies of animals and humans.
Radiology has significantly grown in importance in healthcare; let us examine why. In recent years, Value-based Care and Quality Improvement in healthcare have become the principal goal for many Healthcare providers. This is mainly in response to the US Congress passing the Healthcare Act of 2015, requiring payment reimbursement to healthcare providers be tied to the quality of care. Healthcare and medical institutions are rewarded financially based on efficiency and effectiveness and penalized for lack thereof. Radiology plays a vital role.
But how to measure efficiency and effectiveness? Quality Control (QC) and Quality Improvement (QI) in Radiology compasses four different areas:
- People
- Policies & Practices
- Processes & Procedures
- Technology & Communications
Therefore, many different improvement projects can be implemented in any Radiology department. But how do you prioritize projects? What factors do you measure? What tools can you use?
Reza spoke more on this topic, including project tools and prioritization methods, in his presentation to the Life Sciences LCI on Nov 18, 2021: “Project Management of Quality Improvement in Radiology”. PMINJ members can view the webinar recording by logging in and navigating to Events – Meeting Archives.
