CDHB Radiology Department Gets Award

23 May, 2007

CDHB Radiology Department Is Awarded International Accreditation

Canterbury District Health Board’s radiology department has successfully completed an accreditation process that shows the service it is providing is of an international standard.

The department, which encompasses Burwood, Christchurch and Christchurch Women’s hospitals, is the largest private or public body to be accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).

The department comprises 120 staff across 10 different areas, such as general x-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

As part of the accreditation process, the department underwent a peer review last May, where health professionals’ practice was examined by their colleagues from other hospitals. A further one week “surveillance” audit was carried out earlier this month.

IANZ Chief Executive Dr Llewellyn Richards says the accreditation shows the CDHB’s radiology department is involved in “without a doubt, world best practice.”

“Now patients will be able to have real confidence that when they go to the Canterbury DHB for any diagnostic procedure that their treatment will be world class. They will be able to have absolute confidence in the integrity and quality of their treatment.”

CDHB Quality Facilitator for Radiology Claire Baker says preparing for the accreditation process before the first audit was carried out took more than a year and involved every staff member across three sites.

She says working towards the accreditation has been a good way of bringing the large and varied department together.

Radiology Service Manager Frank Connor says gaining the accreditation has been a challenge but has ensured all procedures being performed meet national and international quality standards.

The IANZ accreditor praised a number of initiatives implemented by the department. These included:

- The comprehensive addressing of internal and external audit recommendations.
- The professionally produced and informative examination brochures available to patients and referrers.
- The well developed and easy to follow adverse drug reaction checklist.
- The use of flowcharts to help staff members through various procedures.
- The comprehensive, precise and informative quality management documentation.

ENDS

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