Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2020
Keywords:
Not applicable, Quality assurance, Radiation safety, Dosimetry, CT, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Management, Action 10 - EuroSafe Imaging Stars
Authors:
L. Bonomo, G. Frija
Description of activity and work performed
To become a member of the EuroSafe Imaging Star network, an imaging department is required to complete an online application form consisting of 21 criteria, covering the topics of optimisation, justification, quality and safety, education, research, and regulatory compliance. For criteria on the use of dose management systems, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), imaging referral guidelines, operational Clinical Decision Support (CDS), the availability of patient information on radiation issues, clinical audit programmes, and information on radiation protection research activities, specific evidence needs to be provided in the form of weblinks, official documents or PDF files.
Successful applicants receive recognition via certificates, the EuroSafe Imaging website and other promotional activities. This not only encourages engagement with the work of the EuroSafe Imaging campaign but also provides institutions with a useful self-evaluation opportunity.
Furthermore, as the Stars network is a collection of radiology departments and institutions that represent excellence in radiation protection, they are also a valuable resource that can be utilised for other areas of ESR and EuroSafe Imaging’s work. In particular, data collection activities and European Commission tender projects, such as the European Study on Clinical Diagnostic Reference Levels for X-Ray Medical Imaging (EUCLID).
Efforts are also underway to create a Star concept for low- and middle-income countries, based on the European model. This concept is being developed in cooperation with centres of excellence in Africa as well as with the IAEA and WHO.