Chapter 6 Radiology Administration

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts, structures, roles, trends, and regulatory aspects from Chapter 6 Radiology Administration.

Hospital environment

The organizational context of a hospital, often described as a 'community within a community,' staffed by diverse workers and resembling a hospital-city structure.

Hospital mission

The Mission Statement defines the hospital's purpose and guides community service; all staff should know and work toward the mission, and directives support it.

Board of Directors

The governing body that provides strategic oversight of the hospital; the CEO reports to the board.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Top executive responsible for overall hospital operations; accountable to the board and oversees divisions and departments.

Medical staff

Physicians and other licensed clinicians who provide medical care and collaborate with the governing board from a medical viewpoint.

Medical Imaging

A clinical support service department that works with other departments to provide patient care and generate revenue.

Clinical support service department

A hospital department that provides essential services to support clinical care across the organization.

Horizontal organizational structure

A flatter design with fewer hierarchical levels, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and broader spans of control.

Total Quality Improvement (TQI)

A management approach focusing on continuous quality improvement across hospital processes.

Reimbursement shifts to outpatient

A trend where payer reimbursement moves from inpatient services toward outpatient services.

Patient experience quality measures

Quality metrics that assess the patient’s experience and satisfaction, increasingly tied to reimbursement.

Top-heavy vertical design

A tall, centralized organizational structure with many levels of management.

Downsized horizontal design

A flatter, team-based structure with fewer management levels and more cross-functional collaboration.

Matrix structure

An organizational design that blends functional and product/service structures to enable cross-department collaboration.

Radiology organization

The radiology department structure, including subspecialties (general imaging, CT, MR, etc.) and support services, led by an Administrative Director.

Administrative Director of Radiology

Executive who leads radiology operations, reports to upper administration, and may hold CRA certification.

Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA)

Certification from the Radiology Administration Certification Commission.

Medical Director

Physician responsible for the quality of patient care and quality-improvement activities in radiology; may also be Department Chair.

Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)

Person responsible for the safe operation of radiation and the radiation protection program; typically a board-certified medical physicist.

Radiation protection program

Program implementing and monitoring safety measures for the use of radiation and radioactive materials.

Radioisotopes

Radioactive materials used in imaging or therapy; oversight by the RSO is required when they are used.

Nontraditional health care settings

Health care delivery sites outside traditional hospitals, such as clinics, outpatient centers, mobile imaging, urgent care, etc.

Management functions

Traditional directing and controlling roles evolving toward leading, coaching, and supporting staff; emphasizes communication.

Continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Ongoing efforts to improve quality in all processes, also called TQI, TQM, or PI.

Performance improvement (PI)

Structured efforts to improve performance and outcomes, often used interchangeably with CQI/TQM.

Patient service focus

Emphasis on delivering excellent customer service and value to patients within radiology and care processes.

The Joint Commission (TJC)

A major accrediting body for health care organizations; sets standards that influence reimbursement and quality.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Federal agency that regulates the use of radioactive materials and radiation safety in health care.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Agency regulating workplace safety and health standards relevant to radiology departments.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Agency regulating medical devices, drugs, and radiopharmaceuticals for safety and effectiveness.

American College of Radiology (ACR)

Professional organization that develops standards, accreditation, and guidelines for radiology.

Infection Control Committee

Committee that oversees infection prevention policies, surveillance, and prevention of infections in the hospital.

Radiation Safety Committee

Committee responsible for the radiation safety program, policies, training, and regulatory compliance in radiology.

Safety Committee

Committee focusing on general safety, hazard assessment, and incident prevention within the hospital.

Risk Management/Corporate Compliance

Group that oversees risk, liability, and compliance with laws and internal policies.

PACS Committee

Committee overseeing the Picture Archiving and Communication System, its operation, and policy use.

TQM Committee

Committee focused on Total Quality Management and quality improvement initiatives.

Desirable Employee Characteristics

Qualities sought in radiology staff, including technical skill, critical thinking, teamwork, customer service, communication, integrity, and professionalism.