WMH earns accreditation for MRI
By From staff reports
Published in News on February 14, 2011 1:46 PM
Wayne MRI has earned three-year accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging by the American College of Radiology.
The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
MRI machines noninvasively scan the inside of the body using a powerful magnet and radio waves. Computerized images are then produced to assist physicians in diagnosis and treatment.
"It's very exciting because this accreditation is not easy to achieve. It's a rigorous, objective and scientific process," said Dr. Kevin Cregan, a radiologist who serves as medical director of Wayne MRI. "It says a great deal about the commitment and credentials of the staff, including the technologists and radiologists. They've worked really hard to make this happen. For patients it means that the highest standards are in place to ensure patient safety and high quality images."
CMS, the federal government agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid, has pushed for accreditation in hopes of improving or eliminating imaging facilities that are not up to standard. As a result, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 calls for outpatient providers of advanced diagnostic imaging services to be accredited by January 2012.
Cregan said Wayne MRI wanted to pursue the milestone although it is not yet required for hospital-based facilities.
"We did it to demonstrate our quality. I hope that patients will strongly consider ACR accreditation when choosing a facility, no matter where they are," he said. "Accreditation ensures higher standards. It's what's best for the patient."