The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) released revised standards and guidelines for MRI accreditation on November 20, following Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval.
"These new standards are the first to require that a registered technologist always remain with the patient, ensuring that qualified personnel will be there to provide care should the need arise," said Amanda Garlock, IAC president and MRI and diagnostic imaging manager at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, WA, in an IAC statement.
Notably, a majority of IAC's revisions surround the addition of standards for portable and remote MRI technology, the accreditor said. For example, the remote scanning guideline addresses staffing shortages of MRI and CT technologists and will assist IAC-accredited facilities that need to engage a third party for remote scanning. Another revision pertains to portable MRI scanning, which is not to be confused with mobile MRI, according to the IAC.
A third point highlighted is a revision to the existing contrast administration and supervision policy.
Publication of the final standards comes after a 60-day public comment period and integration of feedback, as approved by the IAC MRI board of directors, according to the IAC. Applicant facilities are required to be in compliance with the new standards, effective immediately.
The new document, titled "IAC Standards and Guidelines for MRI Accreditation," can be found here.
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