Page 51 - Diagnostic Radiology - Interpreting the Risks Part One
P. 51
SVMIC Diagnostic Radiology: Interpreting the Risks
Please see the Appendix located at the end of Part Two of this
book for the ACR Practice Parameter For Communication of
Diagnostic Imaging Findings.
20
National Patient Safety Goals
Since the majority of radiologists practice in a hospital setting, it
is important that the radiologist be thoroughly familiar with the
rules and protocols of the hospital and/or system within which
he or she practices. They should also be familiar with the Patient
Safety Goals promulgated by The Joint Commission. The most
recent National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG.02.03.01) Effective
January 2019 as it pertains to radiology provides as follows:
The goal is to improve the effectiveness of communication
among caregivers by reporting critical results of tests and
diagnostic procedures on a timely basis.
They also provide the following rationale: Critical results of
tests and diagnostic procedures fall significantly outside the
normal range and may indicate a life-threatening situation. The
objective is to provide the responsible licensed caregiver with
these results within an established timeframe so that the patient
can be promptly treated.
The Joint Commission states that the elements of performance
pertaining to this goal include the following:
• Develop written procedures for managing the critical
results of tests and diagnostic procedures that address the
following:
20 https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/CommunicationDiag.pdf
Page 51
