Effect of implementation of image quality assurance system on photographing technical education and medical safety and prevention

Abstract

Image quality assurance refers to the activities of radiological technologists of checking the images before confirmation, editing the images as necessary, and deleting unnecessary images to support the physician’s diagnosis and interpretation. Whether image information corresponding to the order has been obtained and associated information is correctly entered are the points to be confirmed before fixing the images. Moreover, associated information, image density, image direction, and image order should be corrected as necessary. Thus, this study investigated whether image quality assurance affects education to improve the techniques in taking images and whether this contributes to medical safety. Contents and retake rates including the difference in the years of experience were examined and analyzed according to the site （chest, abdomen, cervical vertebra, shoulder joint, knee joint, lumbar spine, and hip joint） based on the retaken simple radiographic images in 5 years （between 2012 and 2016）. In addition, frequencies by cause of retakes were investigated according to site. The results showed that the retake rate was increased by new technicians and fluctuated due to changes in rotation timing. Moreover, the retake study meeting helped prevent the increase in retake rate by those factors. Furthermore, enhancing image quality assurance contributed to medical safety.