Radiation Oncology Accreditation History
The Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Program was established in 1986 as the logical extension of the Patterns of Care Study (PCS) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The accreditation program was designed to evaluate the work-up and treatment approaches of radiation oncologists, measured against the normative data provided by the PCS national data base and various standards. The program has evolved over the years and facility data for staffing and equipment is compared to data from ACR accredited facilities.
In 2008, the ACR joined with ASTRO in a new partnership for radiation oncology practice accreditation that builds on the ACR’s current successful program that has served as the industry standard for more than 20 years. As a result of this collaboration, radiation oncology programs will have expanded access to this well established and efficient process of both self-assessment and independent external expert audit, based on nationally recognized guidelines, including ACR and ASTRO guidelines and technical standards and the American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group reports that assess the qualifications of personnel, policies and procedures, equipment specifications, quality assurance (QA) activities, patient safety, and ultimately the quality of patient care.
