ICAMRL Magnetic Resonance Accreditation Program Launched

from the Spring 2001 issue

The experience gained through developing and administering the ICAVL, ICAEL and ICANL accreditation programs during the past ten years is being utilized to develop an equivalent accreditation program for magnetic resonance facilities. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission is pleased to announce the establishment of the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Magnetic Resonance Laboratories (ICAMRL). As with the ICAVL, ICAEL and ICANL, the IAC offers an "intersocietal" approach to accreditation by uniting all involved specialties when developing an accreditation program. With that philosophy in mind, the ICAMRL is being created with the support of the five sponsoring organizations listed to the right, but independent of their activities. In addition to the representatives appointed by the sponsoring organizations, the Board Of Directors includes four at-large positions for the purpose of ensuring whole body imaging expertise. These positions include two radiologist and two technologist positions.

Each specialty represented on the Board Of Directors (cardiology, neurology, orthopaedic surgery and radiology) has been involved in the writing and editing of the accreditation documents. An Essentials and Standards document for each area of MR that will be accredited by the ICAMRL (Body, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal and Neurological) has been developed. Accreditation of Non-Cardiac Vascular will be added in the future. MRA of the brain and MRA of the neck are included within the Neurological Essentials and Standards document. Facilities can apply in any one or all of these areas, depending on the types and numbers of procedures they perform. Sections within the Essentials and Standards include Indications; Techniques and Components of Examination Performance; Procedure Volumes and Quality Assurance (technical and interpretive). In addition, a document titled Magnetic Resonance Imaging Operations -- Organization details the administrative functions of the laboratory including personnel (medical and technical) and supervision; support services; physical facilities; examination interpretation, report and records; safety and quality assurance (system and facility performance).

There is also a corresponding Accreditation Application that is completed by facility staff and requires information on all aspects of the MR facility operation as well as the submission of actual case studies for review. The ICAMRL accreditation process provides emphasis on the final product: the magnetic resonance examination and its report. The ICAMRL does not require a specific phantom but instead requires the applicant facility to provide thorough documentation of their quality assessment program.

On January 2, 2001 five selected facilities throughout the U.S. received the drafted Essentials and Standards and corresponding Accreditation Application for the purpose of a pilot program. The pilot process will help ensure the validity of the application process and whether it will elicit the expected responses. Following the review of the applications submitted by the pilot facilities, the Board Of Directors will make any necessary adjustments to the accreditation documents. It is anticipated that the accreditation program will be made available to the MR community within the first quarter of 2001.

For more information on the new ICAMRL accreditation process, please call 410-872-0100.

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