Quality Control for Digital Radiography

Quality control

- Visible, on-going effort to collect information about an imaging operation

- Part of an overall Quality Assurance (QA) program

- Seeks to get the most efficient performance from both the imaging facility and the physician

1. Malfunctions

2. Unpredictability

3. Inefficient use of radiation

4. High fluoroscopic outputs

5. Radiation not reaching receptor

6. Inadequate filtration

7. Oversized collimation

QC can detect:

1. Acceptance Testing

2. Establishment of baseline performance

3. Diagnosis of changes in performance

4. Verification of correction of deterioration

Components of QC:

Diagnostic quality

● Quality image that makes accurate diagnosis possible

● Can be described in terms of contrast, resolution, and noise

image and accurate report of findings.

The end product in radiography is the ...

● Calibration of the generator

● Collimation

● Beam alignment

● Linearity of exposure

● Spatial resolution (focal spot)

Computed radiography still uses conventional radiographic equipment so basic radiography quality control

testing is still needed:

Process map

Flowchart of the steps involved in performing a DR exam

Reject Analysis

• a time-honored method for assessing and improving quality of imaging operations

1. Collection of data

2. Data must be analyzed to reveal recurring causes

3. Results need to be reported to management/staff

4. Action needs to be taken based on the results to affect any improvement.

Reject analysis:

- to maintain optimal quality of diagnostic images;

- to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure to patient and staff;

- to be cost effective

Objectives of QA program:

1. Quality Control tests

2. Administrative procedures

3. Preventive maintenance procedures

4. Training

The QA program has many facets, including:

Quality control

• An integral part of quality assurance

• Involves specific actions designed to keep measurable aspects of the process involved in manufacturing a

product (image) or providing a service within specified limits.

- The inherent variability of the process or equipment

- The age, reliability, and frequency of use of the equipment

- The criticality of the element in the imaging chain

The frequency of any QC test depends on the following variables:

Administrative procedure

These procedures are designed to verify that QC testing is effective

Preventive maintenance procedure

These are performed on a regularly scheduled basis with the goal of preventing breakdowns due to equipment failing

without warning signs detectable by monitoring.

Quality Assurance Committee

Personnel in the QA program who are responsible to oversight of the QA program, setting the goals and

direction, determining policies, and assessing the effectiveness of QA activities

Quality Assurance Committee

They have an overall documented strategy with clearly defined work plans to achieve the goals and

objectives of the radiology department.

- Medical Physicist

- Radiologist

- Biomedical engineer

- Medical Imaging Technologist (MIT) and Radiographer

- Information Technology (IT) Technician

QA committee members includes:

Medical physicist

An individual who is competent to independently practice in one or more of the subfields in medical physics.

Radiologist

A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury by using medical

imaging technologies.

Biomedical engineer

use their knowledge of modern biological principles in their engineering principle to

design and develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems.

- Corrective and preventative maintenance

- Fault Reporting

Biomedical engineer are involve in;

Medical imaging technologist (MIT) & Radiographer

- Ensuring that the appropriate protocol and technique factors are used for the requested examination.

- Ensuring that the QC tests are performed, interpreted and recorded appropriately.

- Perform all the checks for the daily, monthly and quarterly QC testing of equipment

- Report faults immediately any deviation in trend of equipment performance to QA manager

- Undertaking additional continuous education courses

Information Technology (IT) Technician

• A key element of any digital radiology facility that intends to store, review and distribute images

electronically or using hard copy. Their responsibility includes;

• Maintenance of the integrity of system databases to ensure continuous and accurate operation of the

information systems.

- Costly

- Personnel

QA program drawback

- Regular maintenance inspections are carried out

- Safety procedures are followed

- Adequate staff instruction is given

- Safety equipment is readily available

To make the environment as safe as possible, make certain the following: