IRQN Award article: Radiology audit: a program developed for remote or solo-practicing radiologists: a New Zealand quality initiative.

Abstract

New Zealand radiologists working in solo or locum tenens practice away from colleagues in hospital departments or at large practices may have problems satisfying peer review and audit requirements for the Medical Council of New Zealand and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. This paper describes a practical audit program developed by a small group of New Zealand radiologists that commenced in 2005. Each year, a set of cases with known clinical and pathologic outcomes is sent from one radiologist to the next on a rota system. Reports are e-mailed back, then audited, with comments being returned again by e-mail. Each radiologist therefore acts as both reporter and auditor, ensuring a spectrum of audit around the group. The cases are reported blind, but usually, a limited amount of clinical information is provided, as would be the case on a request form in clinical practice. The process of audit is described, and the reaction to and acceptance of the program by the participants have been surveyed at the end of the first year of operation. The program has achieved overall acceptance by the group and is approved by the continuing medical education committee of the college, hence satisfying the Medical Council of New Zealand.