MAP Overview
The Mammography Accreditation Program (MAP) is a cornerstone initiative of the CAR, designed to elevate the standard of mammography services across Canada. Established in 1994, MAP has played a pivotal role in setting national benchmarks for quality and safety in mammography.
TLDR: MAP improves mammography services by undergoing constant updates and bringing them to all facilities to ensure people, equipment and the facilities are doing the best for Canadians.
Expertise and Professional Development
Moving beyond the traditional personnel requirements, this area focuses on continuous professional development and the cultivation of expertise among staff. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing education, skill enhancement, and the integration of interdisciplinary knowledge that is mammography focused.
Integrated Quality Management
This area expands on quality control to encompass a comprehensive quality management system that integrates patient safety, operational efficiency, and technology optimization. It includes proactive quality assurance practices, digital monitoring, and analytics to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality medical images. This approach leverages data-driven decision-making to improve patient outcomes and operational excellence.
Advanced Diagnostic Technology
Updating the equipment specifications area, this focuses on the adoption and utilization of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and innovations in mammography. It emphasizes the importance of precision medicine, highlighting equipment that not only meets current standards but also anticipates future technological advancements. This area ensures that facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technologies that enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.
Holistic Image and Patient Care Excellence
Reframing breast image quality to encompass a broader perspective on patient care and diagnostic excellence, this area focuses on the integration of high-quality imaging with a holistic approach to patient care. It involves systematic image assessments by qualified reviewers within a framework that values patient-centered care, emphasizing empathy, communication, and personalized care strategies in addition to technical imaging excellence.
These modernized quality areas aim to reflect a forward-thinking approach that integrates the latest in medical imaging technology with a comprehensive focus on patient care, professional development, and integrated quality management.
Read Standards
As of 2019 there is an increase in the requirement of the minimum number of mammography exams reported by a radiologist. The requirement is increasing from 480 to 1,000. The published literature has shown that higher reading volumes are associated with improved sensitivity and specificity. Many countries require between 2,000 and 5,000 reads per radiologist. Increasing the number of reads to 1,000 will positively improve patient outcomes. This increase will also bring the CAR Mammography Accreditation Program (MAP) more in line with evidence-based standards. Please see the following FAQ for additional information.
MAP Online System
The Mammography Accreditation Program (MAP) is digital.
User Guides
The new system provides step-by-step instructions for facilities, radiologists and medical radiation technologists. All user guides listed below are available within the new portal by selecting the documents tab and toggling the shared folder in the upper right corner. Introductory guides for each user have been made available below.
To access the guides listed below, log into your MAP Online profile, click on the Documents tab then toggle to the shared folder (upper right corner).
- MRT CPD Activities Guide
- MRT Consent to Participate Guide
- Radiologist Workstation Guide
- Radiologist CPD Activities and Annual Read Submission Guide
- Radiologist Consent to Participate Guide
- Primary Contact Facility Portal Guide
- MAP Overview of Program Guide