Peer Review in Radiology (1)

What is Peer Review?

• Most common method to assess performance of medical and clinical knowledge among radiologists
• An assessment of adherence to standard of care of radiologists, typically involve diagnostic accuracy
• Degree of interpretative agreement between radiologists is often used (perceived diagnostic features, correct interpretation and reporting)

Why Peer Review?

• Ongoing quality assurance of diagnostic accuracy is important in radiology
• It is also one of several crucial aspects in the maintenance of certification
• It may ensure adherence to standard of care within an institution
• It helps identifying opportunities for additional education, error reduction and self improvement

How to Peer Review?

• In general, there are two methods: proactive or reactive
• Proactive is to assign routine double reading of imaging studies by separate radiologists and compare the results
• Reactive is by using discrepancy reporting, or by re-reviewing a previously read study during routine interpretation of a current study to evaluate the previous radiologist's interpretation.
• Scoring is given for different degrees of discrepancy

Reference:

Mahgerefteh S, Kruskal JB, Yam CS, et al. Peer review in diagnostic radiology: current state and a vision for the future. Radiographics 2009;29:1221-1231.