Recommendations Follow-Up Improvement Collaborative

Improving Performance Together

American College of Radiology Recommendations for Follow-Up Improvement CollaborativeUp to 10% of all radiology reports contain follow-up recommendations and approximately half of the recommended follow-up exams are never performed. Lung nodules represent about half of all imaging follow-up recommendations and noncompliance with radiology lung nodule follow-up places patients at risk for delayed diagnosis of lung cancer.

Participants will learn and share ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their follow-up tracking systems to improve patient outcomes, decrease the risk of missed cancers, generate a return on investment, and reduce malpractice risk for institutions and providers.

Become a participant and make a difference.

Minimum requirements for participants:

  • A strong interest in improving recommendations follow-up.
  • Supportive department leaders.
  • An improvement coach with QI experience.
  • A team of engaged front-line staff and leaders.
  • Ability to commit to a nine-month training program.
  • An active follow-up tracking process.

Resources required:

  • A department role to coordinate care and communicate with patients.
  • Tracking and monitoring data.

Project team members (flexible):

  • Radiologist
  • Patient care coordinator
  • Primary care physician/team
  • Radiology manager
  • Radiology scheduler

Learn more about the application process below. Download one-pager or view the FAQ for more information.

Apply now

Timeline

Application deadline
Dec. 20, 2021

Invitation to participate
Jan. 29, 2022

Deadline to commit
Feb. 21, 2022

Pre-program training
Mar. 14, 2022

First program session
April 25, 2022

Graduation
Nov. 14, 2022

About the Application Process

How do I apply?

Submit an application, available online, to indicate your organization’s interest in joining one or more of the improvement collaboratives. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, for the first round of improvement collaborative projects.

How will sites be selected?

Upon submitting your application, a program manager will contact you to schedule a 30-minute discussion to review participation requirements and to assess your organization’s readiness to participate in the collaborative and the associated structured learning program. The discussion may include details about your current improvement initiatives, leadership structure and organizational commitment. Sites will be selected based on an organization’s ability to commit to the program and the likelihood of project success.

Can I join more than one collaborative?

Yes. Each participant in a collaborative will require its own project team and leadership commitment. It is important to note that the improvement may require significant changes to processes that can span multiple roles and departments. To give each project and team the greatest chance of success, ensuring dedicated adequate resources and commitment is necessary.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

You can email our program team at ACRLearningNetwork@ACR.org.

Leadership and Advisory Committee

Physician Leader 

  

Advisory Committee 
Ben Wandtke, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester
  
  • Tyler Prout, MD
  • Kristin Hans, RN
  • Christopher Moore, MD
  • Woojin Kim, MD
  • Tyler Prout, MD
  • Stella Kang, MD
  • Terri Ann DiJulio
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    The Recommendations Follow-Up Improvement Collaborative is one of four improvement collaboratives in the ACR® Learning Network.

    Apply now