American College of Radiology

(1-5) The American College of Radiology (ACR) initially solicited expert opinion from physician leaders with its Board of Chancellors. A working group was then formed to further identify common clinical scenarios in which imaging may be misused and should be reconsidered. Members of the group included the physician chairs or vice chairs of seven ACR commissions such as Quality and Safety, Appropriateness Criteria and Metrics. An initial list of topics was narrowed down based on the highest potential for improvement, representing a broad range of tests and the availability of strong guidelines. Members then researched specific recommendations and evidentiary statements based on their expertise. Recommendations that were too general or were well covered by other existing measures and initiatives were eliminated to identify the final five things list.

(6-10) The Choosing Wisely initiative was presented to the organization’s physician leaders at a Board of Chancellors meeting and a working group selected five initial low-value imaging targets for reduced utilization. The second set of targets was created by the following working group, with the goals of minimizing unnecessary imaging and biopsy generated by discovery of incidental findings, improving patient safety through reduced radiation exposure, and reducing unnecessary consultations based on imaging findings.

• Pamela T. Johnson, MD, Chair, Choosing Wisely Recommendations
• Jacqueline A. Bello, MD, FACR, Chair of Commission on Quality and Safety
• Mythreyi B. Chatfield, PhD, Executive Vice President for Quality and Safety
• Jonathan Flug, MD, MBA, Quality Management Committee
• Jenny K. Hoang, MBBS, lead author on ACR White Paper for Managing Incidental Thyroid Nodules
• Alec J. Megibow, MD, MPH, FACR, Committee on Economics – Body Imaging Commission
• Pari V. Pandharipande, MD, MPH, Chair of Committee on Incidental Findings
• Saurabh Rohatgi, MD, Committee on Quality Experience – Commission on Patient and Family Centered Care

Research: For the topics related to incidental findings on imaging exams, the American College of Radiology has created evidence-based white papers to provide guidance to practicing radiologists on making management recommendations. The white paper publications and additional relevant literature serve as the evidence supporting those recommendations. For the remaining recommendations pertaining to body CT protocol design, published literature was reviewed to define acceptable indications for multiphase protocols.

ACR’s disclosure and conflict of interest policy can be found at www.acr.org.

Douglas, AC, Wippold II, FJ, Broderick, DF, Aiken, AH, Amin-Hanjani, S, Brown, DC, Corey, AS, Germano, IM, Hadley, JA, Jagadeesan, BD, Jurgens, JS, Kennedy, TA, Mechtler, LL, Patel, ND, Zipfel, GJ, Expert Panel on Neurologic Imaging. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Headache. [Online Publication]. Reston (VA) American College of Radiology (ACR); 2013. Available at: https://acsearch.acr.org/docs/69482/Narrative/

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