April 16, 2015 — Radiologists can earn American Board of Radiology Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit, engage referring physicians and demonstrate value in emerging healthcare delivery systems by using American College of Radiology (ACR) Value-Based Radiology Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) Project tools and resources.
"The all-member ACR PQI project is ‘turnkey.’ All the needed instructions, tools and interventions are readily available. You can implement and complete this PQI project much more efficiently than if you develop and run your own," said Max Wintermark, M.D., chair of the project.
The program will allow participants to:
- Obtain a step-by-step guide to carry out a relevant PQI project that eliminates “how to” guesswork
- Access information on strategies to effectively engage referring clinicians
- Receive a free stand-alone version of ACR Select decision support system customized for the PQI project by the National Decision Support Company (NDSC)
- Share imaging utilization improvement reports with referring clinicians and hospital administrators
- Add to the national effort to demonstrate how radiologists can improve imaging utilization
The ACR Value-Based PQI project provides a roadmap to help participants engage a specific group of treating physicians in the selection of the most appropriate imaging exams for their patients.
Exams from the Choosing Wisely campaign, which focus the conversation between radiologists and referring clinicians, and ACR Select, which integrates the evidenced-based ACR Appropriateness Criteria into clinical decision support, determine the appropriateness of exams ordered.
“The ACR PQI project integrates with Imaging 3.0 by providing a game plan for radiologists to address imaging utilization, reduce errors and improve quality and safety. This demonstrates value to their communities and healthcare systems,” said E. Kent Yucel, M.D., FACR, chair of the ACR Committee on Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology Appropriateness Criteria.
The PQI Project will officially launch at ACR 2015 –The Crossroads of Radiology – the college’s all-new annual meeting, May 17-21, in Washington, D.C.
Two PQI sessions will be offered at ACR 2015:
- The Role of the Radiologist as a Valued Consultant
- Imaging Appropriateness in the Era of Imaging 3.0
These sessions will present information about conducting successful PQI projects — including how they can enhance value to patients, referring clinicians and the specialty, as well as insights from radiologists who have carried out the ACR all-member PQI project.
For more information: www.acr.org
July 31, 2026 
