Quality Management

purpose of a quality management program

control or minimize variables that degrade the quality of products and services offered

to maximize efficiency

to continually improve outcomes

• safety

• efficiency

• effectiveness

parts of a quality management program

quality assurance

quality control

continual quality improvement (CQI) goal

produce quality images in a safe environment, create quality images with min amount of radiation

quality assurance (QA)

focuses on processes and quality of services offered

• pt care

• wait times

• image interpretation

• timeliness of reports

quality control (QC)

focuses on equipment and technical quality

• equipment performing within established parameters

• radiation exposure

  • minimize repeats

  • pt safety

  • ALARA

factors to minimize variables

expected quality

• influenced by outside factors

perceived quality

• very subjective

• brings pts back to the hospital

actual quality

• statistical data measures outcomes

key process variables

manpower

• personnel involved in process

machines

• equipment used

materials

• supplies used

environment

• both physical and psychological aspect of people involved in processes

policies

• established procedures and/or policies

who are the customers

patients

ordering physicians

other hospital departments

clinics

other businesses

insurance companies

hospitals must change to become more efficient in order to survive

advances in technology

government regulations

accreditations

mergers and buyouts

reimbursement

changes in technology

computers

digitized images

HIS/RIS/PACS

CT

MRI

PET

government regulations to note

mammography quality standards act (MQSA)

• enforced by the center for devices and radiologic health which is part of the FDS

title 21 of the code of federal regulations

Care Bill

• consumer assurance of radiologic excellence

regulatory bodies

department of health and human services

national center for devices and radiological health

food and drug administration

occupational safety and health administration

environmental protection agency

American college of radiologists

when did the US federal government initiate quality management regulations compared to imaging departments

US in 1968

imaging departments in the 1930s

health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) of 1996

established the national standards for