Large-Scale Quality Improvement for Radiation Protection of Children Worldwide: Lessons From the Past Applied to the Present

AJR:198, May 2012

Marilyn J. Goske Kimberly E. Applegate Madan M.Rehani María del Rosario Perez

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to highlight strategies that can be used to implement changes locally for improved safety of pediatric patients. Specific examples of in­ternational organizations engaged with quality improvement are discussed.

CONCLUSION. Large-scale quality improvement to promote radiation protection for children is being aggressively pursued by numerous international organizations. These inter­national agencies use quality improvement methods on a global scale to optimize medical im­aging for all diagnostic imaging modalities that use ionizing radiation with the intent of low­ering radiation dose to children. This work, although vast in scope, requires highly focused project goals with access to scientific expertise. In addition, these coordinated efforts must provide education, collegial support, and resources (both financial and technical) that enable radiology professionals to implement change locally for improved safety of pediatric patients.