Component Four: Practice Quality Improvement (PQI)

The ABR's Practice Quality Improvement - "PQI" - program addresses Part IV requirements. For Diagnostic Radiology, including Vascular and Interventional Radiology, five categories of PQI projects have been defined:

           Patient safety
           Accuracy of interpretation
           Report turnaround time
           Practice guidelines and technical standards
           Referring physician surveys

Each diagnostic radiologist decides on a project in one of these categories, working as an individual, within a department or a group, or associated with a national society.

The steps in the PQI project process are:

1. Learn about PQI process during year one
2. Select project and metrics
3. Collect baseline data
4. Analyze the data
5. Create improvement plan
6. Collect data, compare to initial data, summarize results

The next step is a DECISION POINT: continue with the current project OR choose a new project?

Taking the first step

During the first year diplomates must acquire knowledge concerning quality improvement. The overarching reason for PQI is to improve the quality of care delivered, reduce errors and improve safety. There are many opportunities to learn about how to do this.
Please click here for additional information on PQI guidelines.

By the end of the first year each diplomate must complete an attestation statement indicating that he/she has learned about the concepts and tools of quality improvement. You must complete the questions listed on your own personal database (PDB) attesting that during the first year, you have learned, read and become more knowledgeable about quality improvement as it relates to your practice.

Examples of program resources that you may find helpful in learning about quality improvement include:

• Online or in-person course (including college, institutional, and commercial courses, e.g., Lean Management, Six Sigma)
• Self-Assessment Module (SAM) on quality improvement
• Society-sponsored CME offering
• Institutional course

Many helpful reading resources on PQI are available, including the ABR's recently-published articles for diagnostic radiologists.
See the list here.

By the beginning of the second year you must have selected a project that is relevant to your practice, is achievable in a practice setting, produces measurable results that are suitable for repeated measurements, and is able to effect quality improvement. Currently, the ABR is working to partner with radiology societies to develop PQI products which will be qualified and approved by the ABR. Thus, each individual will need to choose a project as an individual, or associated with a department, group, institution or society.