Medical imaging has accelerated the enormous progress in medicine. The number of radiological examinations has increased dramatically the last decades and, therefore, is currently standard daily practice. It can be expected this number to even continue to grow due to the rising average population age and the enhanced treatments (chronic illnesses in particular).To reduce the number of still existing errors, more attention has been paid to the quality management of medical imaging examinations. Therefore, there has been a world-wide tendency to establish quality systems and...

In Belgium, at least one B-QUAADRIL audit every two years is required for clinical imaging departments. Different phases are foreseen, ranging from a self-assessment (i.e., organized by the radiology department itself), over an internal audit (i.e., organized within the organisation) to an external audit (organized outside the organization). A B-QUAADRIL audit comprises three different sets of questions. Level A questions are related to criteria that are officially required (e.g., by law), level B questions are expected to be met by imaging services that aim for...

The COMPLIANCE software developed by QAELUM enables answers to be submitted per criterion or requirement of the respective standard. The individual status whether the criterion is (partially) met (or not met) can be assigned using a tick box system. Proofs (e.g., internal documents immediately answering a specific question of the standard) can be uploaded from a computer or server and the possibility to add free text (to specify or to comment) is added (see Figure 1). The software clearly indicates which criteria have not been...

The concept of clinical audits applied in the field of radiology is not new but has received more concrete attention since the publication of the European Directive in 2013. The use of (standard-specific) software that guides hospital personnel in their preparation of (mandatory) clinical audits facilitates the necessary evaluation processes. A case example for radiology (as applied in the imaging department of AZ Groeninge hospital) carrying out the Belgian legal framework (B-QUAADRIL) shows important benefits. The software product creates added value, saves time to the...

Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (5 December 2013) about basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation https://www.bsr-web.be/resources/advocacy/belmip (20-01-2022) https://www.iaea.org/publications/8187/comprehensive-clinical-audits-of-diagnostic-radiology-practices-a-tool-for-quality-improvement (20-01-2022)

T. Van Herpe: Employee: Employee at Qaelum J. Dutoit: Nothing to disclose S. Nzitunga: Employee: Employee at Qaelum T. De Waelheyns: Employee: Employee at Qaelum N. Ilcheva: Employee: Employee at Qaelum N. Fitousi: Employee: Employee at Qaelum F. Vanrietvelde: Nothing to disclose J. Jacobs: Founder: CEO at Qaelum