Performance Measures

Performance measures are a key component in health care quality. They serve as a mechanism to evaluate quality and cost-of-care performance. They drive improvement, allow patients to make informed decisions, and are used to influence provider payment. Measures can also provide an objective assessment of how well and how appropriately health care is delivered compared to recognized standards. ACR is always seeking new concepts for measure development; please use this form to submit any ideas for measures you'd like to see developed in the future.

Measures Under Development

Vetted by the ACR Measurement Strategy Group, measure concepts meeting the criteria for high priority are entered into the ACR Metrics Committee measure development pipeline. As the standing committee charged with ACR measure development, Metrics Committee members serve with invited stakeholders to develop measures in their pipeline more fully. The following measures are now under development.

DXA: Improving Diagnosis of True Changes in Bone Mineral Density Exams

This measure aims to improve the communication quality of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) reports by encouraging assessment and reporting of measurement precision.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

These measure(s) aim to ensure that evidence-based follow-up recommendations are made for abdominal aortic aneurysms with a diameter of 2.5 cm or greater.

Closing the Recommendations Follow-up on Actionable Incidental Findings

These measures intend to ensure the completion of evidence-based radiologist-recommended follow-up. 

Diagnostic Imaging 2018 Quality Measures

Detailed Measure List 

These measures were finalized in May 2018.

  • Measure 1: Use of Structured Reporting in Prostate MRI
  • Measure 2: Follow-up Recommendations for Incidental Findings of Simple-Appearing Cystic Renal Masses
  • Measure 3: Surveillance Imaging for Liver Nodules < 10 mm in Patients at Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
  • Measure 4: Use of Quantitative Criteria for Oncologic FDG PET Imaging
  • Measure 5: Use of Low Dose Cranial CT or MRI Examinations for Patients with Ventricular Shunts
  • Measure 6: Use of Low Dose CT Studies for Adults with Suspicion of Urolithiasis or Nephrolithiasis

If your radiology practice would like to help test these measures, please fill out a volunteer form  or email Measure.Development@acr.org. 

Diagnostic Imaging 2017 Quality Measures

Detailed Measure List

  • Measure 1: Recommended Follow-up for Imaging Findings
  • Measure 2: Appropriateness: Follow-up Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging for Incidentally-Detected Pulmonary Nodules According to Recommended Guidelines
  • Measure 3: Appropriate Follow-up Imaging for Benign Adrenal Masses
  • Measure 4: Interpretation of CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) for Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Measure 5: Incidental Coronary Artery Calcification Reported on Chest CT

The ACR is looking for radiology practices to help us test and validate this set of quality reporting measures. To volunteer, please fill out a volunteer form  or email Measure.Development@acr.org.

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