Verivius for Diagnostic Imaging

Independent Diagnostic Imaging providers in England are inspected under the same five CQC key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led) as the rest of the regulated sector. The evidence weighting is different. Image quality assurance, equipment QC, incidental findings handling and disclosure, reporting turnaround time, contrast media reaction logging, and the sonographer or radiographer clinical competency trail all carry more weight than they would in a generalist outpatient setting.

Diagnostic Imaging providers also sit under sector-specific statutory and professional layers. IR(ME)R 2017 for any service using ionising radiation (X-ray, CT, mammography, interventional radiology). MHRA Yellow Card for device-related adverse incidents, with particular weight on MRI safety events. Society and College of Radiographers standards for sonographers and radiographers. Royal College of Radiologists standards for radiologists. BMUS safety guidelines for ultrasound. Verivius records the governance trail cleanly so each layer can see what it needs to see in one place.

The sector setup is the Diagnostic-Imaging-specific content that comes pre-loaded into your account on top of the core Verivius platform. It will include:

• Imaging-specific incident categories: unintended ionising radiation exposure, MRI safety event (ferromagnetic incident), contrast media reaction, equipment QA failure, incidental findings disclosure gap, reporting turnaround breach.
• Sonographer-specific incident categories: missed fetal anomaly, image quality below diagnostic standard, scope limitation not communicated to the referrer.
• Imaging-specific complaint categories: difficulty obtaining report, incidental finding handling, fetal scan results communication (baby-scan service specific), repeat exposure with no clinical change in management.
• Safeguarding categories adapted for the sector: safeguarding-on-scan disclosure, suspected non-accidental injury identified on imaging.
• Assurance calendar items: quarterly IR(ME)R compliance review, monthly equipment QA per modality, monthly MRI safety screening audit, quarterly incidental findings follow-up audit, monthly reporting turnaround audit, annual radiation dose audit against Diagnostic Reference Levels, annual MRI quench drill, quarterly sonographer clinical audit, periodic contrast media reaction log review.
• Training matrix templates for Diagnostic Imaging roles (sonographer, radiographer, radiologist, imaging assistant, Radiation Protection Supervisor, MRI safety officer), including IR(ME)R Practitioner / Operator currency, obstetric ultrasound competency, and MRI safety screening.
• Sample policies (to be drafted): IR(ME)R local rules template, MRI safety screening and ferromagnetic risk, incidental findings disclosure protocol, ultrasound safety under BMUS guidance, contrast media reaction management.
• Mock Inspection methodology adapted for Diagnostic Imaging evidence categories.

The Diagnostic Imaging sector setup is being built as part of the v1 expansion. Verivius v1 currently ships for independent secondary care providers; Diagnostic Imaging is one of the seven sectors being added before the first paying customer in each.

If you run an independent sonography practice, a baby scan service or a small private imaging centre and would like to be on the early-access list, get in touch using the form below. We will let you know when the pack is ready and what the early-access terms look like.