RADPEER Instructions and FAQ

Each group is assigned a number by the ACR, such as group ID 202. The group then assigns each physician a number (known only to the group) such as physician 102. The ACR does not know the individual physicians’ identifiers and the group number is known only to the ACR.

Each participant is assigned an initial password that must be changed at time of first login.

RADPEER reports are privileged and confidential peer review information. Release or disclosure is prohibited in accordance with Code of Virginia 8.01-581.17.

The ACR does not require a minimum number of reviews per physician. Your group may optionally elect to choose a target number of RADPEER submissions as part of your internal quality assurance program, but this is not mandatory.

The RADPEER process is conducted during routine interpretation of images. If there are prior images of the same area of interest when a new study is being interpreted, the report of the previous study will be reviewed and its accuracy will be scored by the reviewer using a standardized rating scale.

Rating scale
1 = Concur with Interpretation
2 = Discrepancy in Interpretation/not ordinarily expected to be made (understandable miss)
3 = Discrepancy in Interpretation/should be made most of time

When assigning a scores of 2 or 3, you will have the option of choosing one of the following:
a. unlikely to be clinically significant
b. likely to be clinically significant

Before being submitted to RADPEER, scores of 2b, 3a or 3b should first be sent for internal arbitration; i.e., review by chair/medical director or QA committee.

No, but when you access your group’s report you will have data to compare your scores to all other RADPEER participants.

The group administrator can access the reports online at any time.

RADPEER covers your group for all modalities at all locations where you provide services. Reports will be based on each practice location as long as your group lists its sites in the group account. (This is optional; the site tab will be added to the account if indicated on the application.)

RADPEER is only effective when there is more than one physician to complete reviews of previously interpreted studies. If you are in solo practice, we suggest that you develop a documented peer review mechanism for evaluation of the accuracy of exam interpretation, perhaps through use of locum tenens (when providing vacation coverage) or agreement with a local academic facility.

No.

Breast imaging facilities are welcome to participate in RADPEER but it is not mandatory. Peer review requirements apply to CT, MR, nuclear medicine, PET, ultrasound and breast ultrasound. Mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, breast MRI, and radiation oncology are not included.

Because we do not collect any protected health information (PHI), patient confidentiality is not an issue.