American College of Radiology Strategic Plan


Mission

To serve patients and society by maximizing the value of radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics by:

  • Advancing the science of radiology
  • Improving the quality of patient care
  • Positively influencing the socio-economics of the practice of radiology
  • Providing continuing education for radiology and allied health professions
  • Conducting research for the future of radiology.

Plan Strategies

  • Promote radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics by documented qualified physicians and medical physicists
  • Increase the ACR''s influence with governmental agencies, private payers and the public
  • Be proactive and aggressive on issues of quality
  • Expand the ACR''s role in research initiatives
  • Assure a productive and growing membership

Action Plans

Government Relations

Influence legislation and regulations

  • Increase the effectiveness of the ACR''s government relations activities
  • Sponsor one of the most influential health care political action committees
  • Assist chapters with state legislative and regulatory issues
  • Strengthen ties with key federal agencies

Economics & Health Policy

Help radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics adapt to a competitive and changing health care environment

  • Educate and influence the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other payers to favorably impact economic policy
  • Increase emphasis on practice management resources
  • Address radiologist and technologist workforce issues
  • Participate with other health care organizations on health policy issues
  • Strengthen cooperation and coordination with other radiology societies and lead efforts on specific activities

Standards, Accreditation & Appropriateness Criteria

Ensure provision of high-quality care by qualified physicians practicing in accredited facilities that meet appropriate standards

  • Make the ACR the premier accreditation body in the radiologic sciences
  • Develop standards (guidelines) for quality practice
  • Improve the effective delivery of radiology services through the development of Appropriateness Criteria™
  • Make the accreditation process efficient for members, facilities and the ACR
  • Improve member perception of the value of standards and accreditation programs
  • Market accreditation programs to private payers, referring providers and the public

Quality

Promote quality in the practice of radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics

  • Develop measures of quality for the practice of radiology
  • Develop studies to measure the impact of standards, accreditation and other ACR initiatives on the quality of patient care
  • Promote recognition and acceptance of "QUALITY IS OUR IMAGE™" slogan

Membership

Assure a productive and growing membership base

  • Develop and implement an effective marketing plan to retain and recruit members
  • Refine products and services to enhance ACR membership
  • Strengthen the ACR and chapter leadership
  • Encourage active participation of resident and young physician and physicist members in chapter and ACR activities

Marketing and Communications

Ensure increased and effective communication with members, decision makers and the general public

  • Develop a coordinated approach to brand and market the ACR, its members and the organization''s products and services to the media, payers and public
  • Increase methods and avenues to improve two-way communication with the membership
  • Establish the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR) to address economic and practice issues in radiology
  • Establish the ACR as a key resource for national and local media on radiological issues
  • Become the leader in electronic interactions in radiology including the Web, teleconferencing and image transfer

Education

Be a leader in life–long-learning activities and other educational products and services for the membership

  • Develop profitable educational products that address the needs of ACR members
  • Produce educational services to support accreditation programs
  • Be a leader in Web-based learning
  • Market ACR educational products and services
  • Meet the requirements of Maintenance of Certification

Research

Recognize that research is the basis for tomorrow''s practice

  • Expand the current research grant activities
  • Leverage clinical and health services research capabilities to increase the scope of ACR activities
  • Increase ACR membership awareness and recognition of the importance of research
  • Increase ACR membership participation in research

Technology

Evaluate new technology and new applications of technology

  • Monitor and assess new technologies for incorporation into radiological practice
  • Develop a strategic approach for new technologies such as molecular medicine, minimally invasive image-guided interventions and therapies and other technologies
  • Participate in development of tools to facilitate electronic transfer of information and images

Finance

Keep the ACR financially sound

  • Reduce reliance on member dues by developing other revenue sources
  • Ensure fiscal responsibility by prioritizing all expenditures in accordance with this plan and within the ACR''s resources

Organizational Structure

Reassess organization structure

  • Reassess organizational structure on a biennial basis to ensure efficient operations
  • Manage the organization based on tenets of the strategic plan
  • Develop staff skills and talents to enable implementation of the strategic plan