Developing a Radiology Quality and Safety Program: A Primer

Four main areas of quality need to be addressed for a complete quality and safety program in radiology: safety, process improvement, professional outcome assessment, and satisfaction. These areas need to be coordinated by individuals who belong to a quality oversight committee. Management of the data can be facilitated by using a quality scorecard that posts relevant data for each operational group within a department. The ultimate goal is a cultural shift in which all departmental workers assume responsibility for quality and safety improvements and behave consistently with the core values of the organization. A road map for thinking about quality and safety issues in radiology allows all of these areas to be tied together. Four main areas of development are required, each demanding a different skill set and approach.