The current status of radiological clinical audit - an ESR Survey of European National Radiology Societies

• Published in: Insights into imaging Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 51 - 5
• Main Authors: Howlett, David C, Brady, Adrian P, Ebdon-Jackson, Steve, Becker, Christoph D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 09.05.2019; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Audits; Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD), 2013/59/Euratom; Clinical audit; Collaboration; Diagnostic Radiology; Imaging; Infrastructure; Internal Medicine; Interventional Radiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; National Radiology Society; Neuroradiology; Quality of service; Radiation protection; Radiology; Resource allocation; Statement; Ultrasound; National Radiology Society; Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD), 2013/59/Euratom; Clinical audit; Radiology; Radiation protection
• ISSN: 1869-4101; 1869-4101
• DOI: 10.1186/s13244-019-0736-4

The importance of clinical audit in radiological practice is increasingly recognised and undertaking clinical audit “in accordance with national procedures” is mandatory for radiology departments within the European Union following implementation of the Basic Safety Standard Directive (BSSD), 2013/59/Euratom in 2018. This survey, sent to all National Radiological Societies in Europe in 2018, evaluated the current status of clinical audit at national level and supporting infrastructure, and explored the potential for wider co-operation and collaboration in developing and evaluating clinical audit processes. Responses were received from 36/47 (76.6%) National Societies. Broadly responses indicated an increasing awareness of the importance of clinical audit, but highlighted deficiencies in necessary infrastructure and resources required for enhancement and development of existing clinical audit systems. National Societies are well placed, in the context of appropriate and prioritised resource allocation, to collaborate with other European bodies, in particular the European Society of Radiology (ESR), to help lead on these important changes, with the potential to provide external direction.