Recent reported cases of cancer misdiagnoses have reaffirmed the critical role of Quality Improvement (QI) in the delivery of patient care. The highly professional work of all Radiologists in Ireland is commended but we are cognisant that Radiology like many diagnostic services involves decision making under conditions of uncertainty and a certain degree of error is inevitable.
Few formal measures are currently in place to reassure the public that error is kept to an absolute minimum and few national benchmarks for key aspects of diagnostic services are currently in place to measure performance. Recognising the importance of these elements, this National Quality Improvement Programme in Radiology was initiated by the Faculty of Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in collaboration with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and the HSE’s Directorate of Quality and Clinical Care in 2009. It is now funded by the HSE Quality Improvement Division (QID) and the programme is managed by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI).
The aim of this QI programme (combined for diagnostic and interventional radiology) is to provide guidelines for practical and implementable QI measures, which, in conjunction with existing local quality systems, will enable each hospital to monitor and evaluate their own performance in an effort to improve patient safety. These guidelines have been developed following consultation with Radiologists within the Faculty and in a number of pilot hospitals.
International QI standards and guidelines have been reviewed and adapted for this QI programme. The Faculty has made a number of recommendations within the guidelines and will assist in their phased implementation.
The Faculty of Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists, RCSI, accepts that this QI programme is an evolving process and that this document will require regular review.
Further information on the National QI programmes can be found here:
National Radiology Quality Improvement Programme - 3rd National Report
Issue Resolution Pathway Radiology QI Programme - Under Review
Radiology QI Programme Lapsed Participation Process - Under Review
National Radiology QI Guidelines V3 - Under Review
Information Governance Policy QA Rad Issue v 2.0
Open Disclosure Faculty of Radiologists V1.2 April 2016
National Radiology QI Programme Overview
UHW National QI Radiology Programme Participant Perspective
QI ICT System Radiology Overview
Esperanto - ESR Guide to Clinical Audit in Radiology 3rd Edition
1st National Data Report (Jan 2019 – Dec 2020)
This is the first National Report produced by the Radiology QI Programme reporting on quality indicators in radiology
National Radiology Quality Improvement (NRQI) Programme’s 2nd National Data Report
A presentation on the participant perspective in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown is available to view by direct request to Dr Peter Kavanagh: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.