History of Accreditation with the Canadian Association of Radiologists
Our journey in accreditation began in 1995 with the launch of the Mammography Accreditation Program (MAP). Today, MAP stands as a national beacon, guiding mammography services across Canada. It is responsible for accrediting 728 mammography systems across 561 facilities. Under this program, more than 1200 radiologists, 2400 medical radiation technologists, and approximately 30 medical physicists are committed to delivering excellence in mammography services. This dedicated community of professionals ensures that every patient requiring a mammogram receives the best possible care.
Patients curious about medical imaging and how our dedicated community goes the extra mile to ensure accuracy and safety in scans are invited to explore additional resources [radiology info]. We are committed to transparency and excellence, ensuring that nothing is missed during your medical imaging procedure.
About us
The CAR’s medical imaging accreditation programs are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care. Our programs are designed not only to uphold exceptional care standards but also to equip medical imaging professionals with the latest evidence-based guidelines. These standards are collaboratively set by experts that represent spectrum of the medical imaging community.
In 2021, the CAR convened the Medical Imaging Accreditation Council (MIAC), a joint governance council with representatives from:
- The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR)
- The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT)
- The Canadian Organization of Medical Physics (COMP)
- The Canadian Association of Interventional Radiologists (CAIR)
- The Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine (CANM)
- Sonography Canada
MIAC represents a unique governance structure which has and will guide the development and oversight of all medical imaging accreditation programs being administered by the CAR.
The Value of Expert-Led Accreditation
At the heart of our accreditation programs is the unwavering belief in the irreplaceable value of expert guidance and oversight. Unlike accreditation based solely on literature-derived standards, our programs are uniquely enriched by the direct involvement of seasoned medical imaging professionals. This approach sets us apart and ensures a level of quality and relevance that literature alone cannot provide. Expert-set standards allows CAR accreditation to directly translate evidence-based guidance into practice, enhancing clinical focus and ensuring administrative standards serve clinical needs, not the other way around.
Experts from the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), along with professionals from allied organizations like the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT), the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP), and others, play a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing our standards. Their collective experience and on-the-ground insights bring a depth of understanding and practicality to our accreditation process. This blend of academic rigor and real-world experience ensures that our standards are not only evidence-based but also steeped in the realities of clinical practice.
These professionals contribute more than just their expertise; they bring a wealth of contextual knowledge that is vital for developing standards that are both rigorous and adaptable to the evolving landscape of medical imaging. Their involvement guarantees that our accreditation programs are not static but dynamically evolve with advancements in technology and practice, always aligning with the highest standards of patient care.
By entrusting the development and oversight of our accreditation standards to these experts, we ensure that our programs remain at the forefront of quality and innovation in medical imaging. This expert-driven approach is our commitment to providing accreditation that truly reflects the highest standards of excellence in medical imaging, offering unparalleled confidence to patients and practitioners alike.