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Quality and Standards

RANZCR aims to continually improve the quality and standards of clinical radiology and radiation oncology services in Australia and New Zealand. This is done by developing quality and safety resources and engaging with external stakeholders to support their implementation.

Standards

A central component of our quality and standards work involves the development and maintenance of documented standards for both professions.

To find current standards, see:

The development of standards is a continuing, consultative process. RANZCR welcomes feedback and suggestions for improvements that can be made to the standards. Please contact the Quality and Standards team with your feedback or suggestions.

Standards of Practice for Clinical Radiology

The Standards of Practice for Clinical Radiology present 16 standards developed for clinical radiology practices. Standards 1-8 cover generic requirements applicable to all medical imaging services; Standards 9-16 cover modality specific requirements, applicable depending on the scope of services provided by medical imaging services.

Radiation Oncology Practice Standards

The Radiation Oncology Practice Standards (ROPS) presents 16 standards developed for radiation therapy centres to assist, and achieve best practice by providing a framework of requirements. Supporting the ROPS, a Supplementary Guide was developed that incorporates useful information that can assist radiation therapy centres in implementing and working towards achieving the Standards.

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The purpose of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (the Framework) is to provide the guidance for conducting rigorous and transparent evaluation of programs, projects, strategies, policies, and initiatives to improve outcomes for RANZCR trainees, members, stakeholders, and patients.

The Framework will support best practice adherence to accepted standards as well as effective, efficient and appropriate use of resources and to foster a culture of continuous improvement and improved outcomes. 

Evaluation is an essential function at RANZCR and is carried out at all levels of the College. It ensures accountability and oversight for performance and results, in a transparent manner, and reinforces organisational learning in order to inform internal policy, compliance with the Australian Medical Council (AMC) standards, quality improvement, relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact of activities.

View the Framework

Quality Projects

RANZCR also runs a number of specific initiatives in quality and safety. These projects aim to improve the quality and safety of radiology and radiation oncology services, and are particularly directed towards increasing the understanding of clinical radiology and radiation oncology in the community and among health professionals.

Targeting Cancer

The Targeting Cancer website is a trusted source of information about radiation therapy for cancer patients and their families, and health professionals, especially general practitioners.

Visit Targeting Cancer

InsideRadiology 

InsideRadiology provides consumers and health professionals with free, accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible information about medical imaging tests and procedures.

All information is written by Fellows of the College or other expert health professionals, and made as easy as possible to understand for consumers and healthcare professionals.

Visit InsideRadiology

Education Modules for Appropriate Imaging Referrals

A suite of 10 stand-alone web-based educational modules has been developed to encourage more appropriate medical imaging referrals by influencing how health professionals think about the place of imaging in patient assessment and care. The modules are designed to be delivered early in a health professional’s career.

Along with the education modules, a free smartphone app has been created to walk users through the clinical decision rules. “Imaging CDRs” is available for iOS and Android users.

Find out more and see the modules

Digital Health: Radiology Referral Set

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and The Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), at the request of the Australian Digital Health Agency is undertaking a landscape analysis to ascertain the ‘terminology sets’ currently being used for medical imaging in Australia. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and The Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), at the request of the Australian Digital Health Agency is undertaking a landscape analysis to ascertain the ‘terminology sets’ currently being used for medical imaging in Australia.

Find out more

Guidance for GP Referrals for MRI Studies

The aim of this project was to develop best practice guidance materials to help general practitioners make appropriate use of the new MRI studies that Australian GPs could refer for under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

From the project, a guidance document and video were developed.

Past Projects

Information about past quality and safety activities, for example the Quality Use of Diagnostic Imaging (QUDI) program, is available from the past quality projects page.