ANNAPOLIS, MD – RadSite, a nationwide imaging assessment program, has reviewed more than 60,000 imaging systems located at about 23,000 imaging facilities across the United States, officials at RadSite announced Thursday.
"RadSite is one of the best kept secrets in the quality-benchmarking field on imaging,” said Cherrill Farnsworth, RadSite Advisory Board chair. “It also has built one of the largest radiology databases in the world with key information about imaging systems, patient safety protocols, and other details about radiology practices.”
According to William Orrison, MD, RadSite’s chief medical director, RadSite has been one of the leaders in working with imaging providers to help them cure quality and operational deficiencies.“RadSite has implemented one of the most detailed and accurate certification programs to promote best practices based upon evidence-based guidelines, said Orrison, who maintains an active radiology practice in Nevada and also chairs RadSite’s Standards Committee.
“RadSite has worked closely with a number of health plans since its inception to promote standards that improve imaging practices across the U.S.,” said Mark Hiatt, MD of HealthHelp, Accreditation Committee chair.“The RadSite Assessment initiative helps ensure that imaging services are quality-based for each health plan member.”
Since 2005, RadSite has developed and implemented the RadSite Assessment Program to evaluate the quality and operational appropriateness of imaging practices, leaders of the organization said. RadSite has a number of new initiatives under way to expand its critical mission of assessing, tracking and reporting imaging trends. Out of the 60,000 imaging systems that are included in RadSite’s assessment database, about 41,000 currently are certified by RadSite.The remaining imaging systems either did not pass RadSite’s standards or the certifications have expired over time.
“Among other goals, we want to make sure that patients are not exposed to inappropriate amounts of radiation,” Orrison said. “With inconsistent requirements from one region to the next, RadSite helps us ensure that a national standard of imaging is followed.”
RadSite’s officials say the company's mission is to promote quality-based practices for imaging systems across the United States and its territories.
RadSite’s certification and accreditation programs help assess, track and report imaging trends in an effort to enhance imaging procedures and outcomes. RadSite also offers educational programs, publishes issue briefs, and underwrites research on a complimentary basis to raise awareness of patient safety issues and to promote best practices. The organization is governed by an independent board and committee system, which is open to a wide-range of volunteers to ensure transparency and accountability. RadSite is expanding its activities and resources to serve patients, providers, payers, government agencies, and other stakeholder groups, the organization's leaders said.
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