The RANZCR MRI Accreditation Registration Program has been further developed to support the RANZCR/NATA Accreditation Program and to provide a framework for ongoing quality assurance activities for MRI sites.  Practices are required to participate in the MRI Accreditation Registration in order to meet the RANZCR Accreditation Standards for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology.  Practices providing Medicare funded MRI services are required to participate in this MRI component of the RANZCR’s Quality and Accreditation Program as a condition of their Medicare status for MRI (please click here for the Medicare Australia website).

The Registration Process

Each MRI system (ie each machine) will need to conform to the requirements for MRI contained in the RANZCR’s Accreditation Standards (Version 7.0).

The MRI Registration for Accreditation Program requirements based on the RANZCR Standards are:

1. Registration of the machine
   A facility will need to provide details on the MRI system including:
• Equipment details
• Nominated Supervising Radiologist Please note the Nominated Supervising Radiologist must be a registered MRI Supervising Radiologist (Please see RANZCR Accreditation Standards Version 7.0 for full details)).
• Personnel details (including the radiologists reporting MRI)
  
  
• Please click here to download the MRI Machine Registration form
• Please click here to download the MRI Supervising Radiologist application form
• Please click here to download the MRI Application for participation in the Quality & Accreditation Program (MRI Radiologist Registration form)
  
  
2. Clinical Image Review

To finalise registration, each MRI system must participate in the MRI Clinical Image Review Program which requires the submission for peer review of ONE the following:

General (click here)
For sites that perform mainly adult examinations

Paediatric(click here)
For sites that perform mainly paediatric examinations

The images are sent in turn to two reviewers who will mark the images for diagnostic quality according to established criteria.  Sites are reminded that all images must be de-identified in regard to the patient and the facility.

Should one or both of the reviewers require resubmission of one or more images in a submission, the submission will be sent to a third reviewer who will determine whether a resubmission is necessary.  Should a resubmission be required, the site will be advised with indication of what was found to be unsatisfactory.

3. MRI Phantom Image Review

Each MRI system must participate in the RANZCR’s Phantom Image Review Program as required.

Currently the Phantom Image Review requirement is under further development.

Once a site has successfully completed each of these steps, it will be Registered for Accreditation.

Ongoing Requirements to maintain MRI Registration from 2006

1. Each MRI system must participate in the MRI Clinical Image Review Self-Audit.
   This is a self-audit tool developed for internal use by sites that have already completed the peer Clinical Image Review for registration.  Sites that registered their MRI systems in Stage 2 of the RANZCR Quality & Accreditation Program are now required to complete this activity.
   
   Please click here for a copy of the Clinical Image Review Self-audit Protocol sheets.

2. Each MRI system must submit an annual registration update.
   This will require confirmation or update as required of the information provided in the original registration form, and a declaration of the MRI Clinical Image Review Self-Audit activities undertaken for the previous year.
   
   NB: There will be an annual MRI Accreditation Registration audit of the MRI Clinical Image Review Self-audit being 5% of the participating sites.  This is intended to maintain quality assurance and encourage continual quality improvement within the program.
   
   Please click here for a copy of the MRI Registration for Accreditation Annual Declaration form.

MRI Resources

• MRI Machine Registration Form
• Application for Registration as an MRI Supervising Radiologist
• MRI clinical image review instructions:
  • General
  • Paediatric

• MRI Application for participation in the Quality & Accreditation Program
• MRI clinical image review self-audit protocol
• MRI Annual Re-registration Form update
• MRI Guidelines:
  • MRI Safety Guidelines
  • NSF Guidelines: Guidelines on the use of Gadolinium-containing MRI contrast agents

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