MDH Radiology Receives Accreditation

McDonough District Hospital has been awarded a three year accreditation in Mammography as the result of a comprehensive review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The application for accreditation in the Diagnostic Modality Accreditation Program is a two-step process:

First, the applicant must provide the ACR with information regarding practice site characteristics (i.e., personnel) and modality-specific information regarding mammography equipment.

The second step involves the submission of clinical images, patient reports, phantom images, and dose measurements from the mammography units. Information is also collected on the quality control and quality assurance programs.

The American College of Radiology, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

The MDH Radiology department, located on the first floor of the hospital, has two mammography suites and five certified mammographers on staff. The director of radiology, Mary Schutte, commented, “Mammography requires a great deal of dedication and continuing education. We are fortunate to have such skilled radiologists and mammographers who exemplify this at MDH.”

McDonough District Hospital has been accredited in Mammography since 1991 and must reapply every three years.