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adiology facility to provide an environment to foster safe and good quality
imaging services. It is important that the facility’s relationship with associated
services and other specialties within the institution are recognized and taken into
consideration in the planning and organizing of its practices.
The mission statement of the facility should describe the nature and extent
of its services and also specify its objectives for teaching and research activities.
This should include the utilization of available resources, for example, to act as a
national or local training centre. The financial structure of the organization to
meet the specified objectives should also be described.
The facility should have an annual plan of activities, and this should include
vision statements and long term objectives.
3.1.1.2. Patient demographic data and workload
The existing infrastructure and resources should be sufficient to meet the
specified objectives of the institution for radiological services, for the typical
number of examinations or procedures encountered, and also when working
under pressure with maximum patient throughput.
The demand for imaging services, as indicated by the number and range of
examinations performed annually, and the facility staffing levels, should be
clearly documented. Patient demographic and annual workload data trends
should be monitored to permit informed planning of facilities and personnel
levels. Ideally, there should be no socioeconomic confounding factors that might
have an adverse impact on providing the specified radiological services.
3.1.2. Quality management system
A quality management system is a framework to support the operation of a
facility/service, with the objective of continuous quality improvement.
A quality management system involves:
—The objectives and policies of the organization;
—Documented procedures consistent with these objectives and policies;
—Written practice instructions for staff;
—Monitoring, recording and auditing of practice.
A diagnostic imaging service should have a person or persons in the role of
quality manager with the responsibility of implementing and maintaining the
quality management system. This should be a facility-wide QA programme,
covering all activities not only at the permanent site but also elsewhere (e.g.,
mobile services).
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