QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RADIOLOGIC AUDIT

Quality assurance is essential in the cost-effective provision of radiologic services. Technical aspects include the routine measurement of equipment performance and the control of reject and retake rates. The current emphasis is on reducing patient radiation dose while maintaining acceptable image quality. The reduction of unnecessary radiologic investigations is also a priority. Clinical and medical audits, integral parts of the quality assurance process, form part of a continuously repeated cycle designed to raise standards of performance by changing clinical practice on the basis of outcome analysis. Quality assurance in mammography is presented as an example.