MRI Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
- What does the MRI Accreditation Program evaluate?
- What is the cost of MRI accreditation?
- Does the ACR require that a physicist or MR scientist perform testing services for a facility to apply for accreditation?
- Who can purchase an ACR MRI phantom?
- What is the cost of the ACR MRI phantom?
- Can any MRI facility apply for MRI accreditation?
- Can mobile MRI practices apply for accreditation?
- What is the most common cause for failure?
- What options does a site have if it fails the initial testing cycle?
- Do sites have to submit images within a certain time frame?
- Do sites undergo a site survey as part of the accreditation process?
- Will MRI accreditation become mandatory?
- Does the ACR accredit 3.0-T magnets?
- When do sites submit copies of their weekly on-site QC data?
- Do sites have to perform weekly laser film quality control if the radiologists read soft copy instead of film?
- My facility did not pass accreditation. May we appeal the decision? If so, what's involved?
- We recently appealed an adverse accreditation decision. When should we receive the results of the appeal?
- We did not pass accreditation because our technologists selected and submitted the wrong images. May we appeal the decision and submit new cases?
- We did not pass accreditation because our technologist did not submit all required images and provided insufficient information with the images that were submitted. May we appeal the decision and submit the rest of the required information?
1. What does the MRI Accreditation Program evaluate?
The program is designed to be educational in nature, and it evaluates qualifications of personnel, equipment performance, effectiveness of quality control measures, and quality of clinical images. It is believed that these are the primary factors that impact the quality of clinical images and the quality of patient care.
2. What is the cost of MRI accreditation?
The first magnet costs $2,400. Each additional magnet in the same radiology group costs $2,300 if located at the same geographic address.
3. Does the ACR require that a physicist or MR scientist perform testing services for a facility to apply for accreditation?
Starting July 1, 2005, sites applying for MRI accreditation must submit an annual MRI system performance evaluation performed by a medical physicist or MR scientist. A technologist may still perform the ACR phantom portion of the accreditation submission, although the ACR strongly recommends the services of a medical physicist or MR scientist for this also.
4. Who can purchase an ACR MRI phantom?
At this time, the phantom can be purchased by MRI facilities that apply for accreditation, MRI equipment manufacturers, and consulting physicists or MR scientists only. The order form for the phantom comes with the testing materials packet when a facility applies for, or renews accreditation. For your convenience, you can download the whole-body MR phantom order form or the cardiac MR phantom order form. MRI manufacturers interested in purchasing a phantom should contact the MRI Accreditation Program at (800) 770-0145 or e-mail to MRI@acr.org.
5. What is the cost of the ACR MRI phantom?
The cost for facilities applying for accreditation is currently $730 (plus local sales tax if applicable). For the most current pricing, sites must refer to application materials. Consulting physicists and MRI manufacturers should contact the MRI Accreditation Program at the ACR for ordering information.
6. Can any MRI facility apply for MRI accreditation?
MRI facilities that perform whole-body imaging may apply for accreditation at this time. Additional MRI accreditation modules will be considered in future program development.
7. Can mobile MRI practices apply for accreditation?
Yes. If a unit serves multiple sites and the imaging protocols and interpreting physician group are the same at each site, then one application and fee should be submitted. If a unit serves multiple locations and the protocols and interpreting physician groups vary from site to site, then each site is required to submit separate applications and fees.
8. What is the most common cause for failure?
Clinical image deficiencies or a combination of clinical and phantom image deficiencies.
9. What options does a site have if it fails the initial testing cycle?
Sites have the option of appealing the results, or they may reapply for the deficient areas indicated on the final report.
10. Do sites have to submit images within a certain time frame?
Sites are given a 45-day time frame to complete the testing portion of the accreditation process (30 days for repeating).
11. Do sites undergo a site survey as part of the accreditation process?
The accreditation process is conducted primarily through the US mail. The ACR will perform random site visits with prior notification to validate maintenance of accreditation criteria.
12. Will MRI accreditation become mandatory?
The ACR MRI Accreditation Program is a voluntary process. However, several third-party payers have recognized the ACR MRI Accreditation Program as a method of demonstrating quality and consequently require ACR accreditation for their providers of MRI services.
13. Does the ACR accredit 3.0-T magnets?
Yes. Starting July 1, the ACR will be accepting MRI accreditation applications for 3.0-T magnets. In order to accurately measure the performance of these units, 2 of the physics tests performed for ACR accreditation will have different pass/fail criteria for 3.0-T units. For the low-contrast object detectability (LCOD), the required number of total spokes for a 3.0-T magnet is equal to or greater than 37. For the image intensity uniformity, the required percent integral uniformity (PIU) for a 3.0-T magnet is equal to or greater than 82%.
14. When do sites submit copies of their weekly on-site QC data?
After July 1, 2005, sites must submit copies of their weekly on-site QC data for the most recent quarter when submitting their testing materials, which include the clinical and phantom images.
15. Do sites have to perform weekly laser film quality control if the radiologists read soft copy instead of film?
If the facility has laser film printers, the weekly laser film printer quality control must be performed.
16. My facility did not pass accreditation. May we appeal the decision? If so, what's involved?
A. Yes. Facilities that receive a deficiency or a failure may appeal the determination in writing within 15 days of the date of the final report. You must send the original images for all of the submitted cases in the category that did not pass along with a letter describing your reason for appealing. Only those images reviewed for the original determination (and having the original labels) will be considered during the appeal evaluation. These will be forwarded to an arbitrator (a reviewer who did not participate in the initial review) with a copy of the previous reviews and the appeal letter written by the facility. No other images will be sent to the reviewer for consideration in the evaluation. The arbitrator's determination will be final.
17. We recently appealed an adverse accreditation decision. When should we receive the results of the appeal?
A. You should receive the appeal results within 30 to 45 days of the date all required appeal materials were received by the ACR.
18. We did not pass accreditation because our technologists selected and submitted the wrong images. May we appeal the decision and submit new cases?
A. Although you may appeal the decision, you may not submit new cases. During accreditation review, the ACR reviewers assume that the submitted cases were reviewed by the modality's supervising physician (as specified in the Testing Instructions) and are examples of your best work. Consequently, during an appeal, you may only submit the original images with the original ACR labels.
19. We did not pass accreditation because our technologist did not submit all required images and provided insufficient information with the images that were submitted. May we appeal the decision and submit the rest of the required information?
A. You may appeal the decision; however, you may only submit the original images with the original ACR labels. Please call the Diagnostic Modality Accreditation Information Line at (800) 770-0145 for further guidance on your specific situation.