Modality: MRI
MRI physics testing and quality assurance by board-certified medical physicists. Annual performance evaluations, ACR MRI accreditation support, safety assessments, and RF shielding verification.
Key Features
- Annual performance evaluations
- Quality control testing
- Safety assessments
- Protocol optimization
- Staff training and education
Applications
- Brain and neurological imaging
- Musculoskeletal imaging
- Cardiac imaging
- Abdominal and pelvic imaging
Benefits
- Superior soft tissue contrast
- Non-invasive procedure
- No ionizing radiation
- Detailed anatomical information
What the annual MRI physics evaluation covers
- ACR MRI phantom testing, all seven tests. Geometric accuracy, high-contrast spatial resolution, slice thickness accuracy, slice position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, percent signal ghosting, and low-contrast object detectability.
- Weekly technologist QC and annual physicist testing. The physicist reviews and documents the technologist's weekly QC records and performs the physicist-level annual testing that complements them.
- MRI safety program support. Review of MRI safety zone documentation and screening procedures, and consultation for the MRI safety officer.
- Report. A written report from a qualified medical physicist (or MR scientist) documents the results for accreditation, state and Joint Commission files.
Accreditation and regulatory drivers
The ACR MRI Accreditation Program requires clinical images, ACR phantom images and an annual system performance evaluation by a qualified medical physicist or MR scientist, and the signed summary is submitted with the accreditation testing. The Joint Commission's hospital standards likewise call for an annual MRI performance evaluation by a diagnostic medical physicist or MRI scientist, alongside its MRI safety expectations.
Go deeper
- MRI ACR Phantom QC: The Seven Tests walks through each phantom test and its pass criteria.
- MRI Safety Program: ACR Zones and Roles covers zones, screening and responsibilities.
- MRI SAR and RF Safety: Limits and Monitoring explains operating-mode limits.
- MRI Geometric Distortion: Sources and QC covers distortion testing.
- Breast MRI QC and ACR Accreditation covers the breast MRI program.
Ready to schedule an evaluation? See our MRI physics testing service or request a quote.