Korean J Radiol.  2010 Oct;11(5):553-559. 10.3348/kjr.2010.11.5.553.

Image Quality Improvement after Implementation of a CT Accreditation Program

• Kim YS
• Jung SE
• Choi BG
• Shin YR
• Hwang SS
• Ku YM
• Lim YS
• Lee JM

• KMID: 1102581
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2010.11.5.553

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate any improvement in the quality of abdominal CTs after the utilization of the nationally based accreditation program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was waived. We retrospectively analyzed 1,011 outside abdominal CTs, from 2003 to 2007. We evaluated images using a fill-up sheet form of the national accreditation program, and subjectively by grading for the overall CT image quality. CT scans were divided into two categories according to time periods; before and after the implementation of the accreditation program. We compared CT scans between two periods according to parameters pertaining to the evaluation of images. We determined whether there was a correlation between the results of a subjective assessment of the image quality and the evaluation scores of the clinical image.
RESULTS
The following parameters were significantly different after the implementation of the accreditation program: identifying data, display parameters, scan length, spatial and contrast resolution, window width and level, optimal contrast enhancement, slice thickness, and total score. The remaining parameters were not significantly different between scans obtained from the two different periods: scan parameters, film quality, and artifacts.
CONCLUSION
After performing the CT accreditation program, the quality of the outside abdominal CTs show marked improvement, especially for the parameters related to the scanning protocol.

Keyword

Computed tomography (CT); QA/QC; Health policy and practice

MeSH Terms

*Accreditation
Humans
*Quality Improvement
Radiography, Abdominal/*standards
Republic of Korea
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*standards

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Bar graph showing average total scores of outside abdominal CT images referred from general hospitals, hospitals, clinics, and unidentified group from before and after accreditation program.

Reference

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