RIO® Grande Physics Goal:
Is to assist our clients in establishing performance standards consistent with the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Association of Physicist in Medicine (AAPM) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment to ensure high-quality diagnostic images are obtained and are consistent with the clinical use of the MRI equipment.
Encourage our clients to achieve ACR accreditation for this unique and important imaging modality.Annual medical physics evaluations performed on each MRI unit includes, but not limited to, the following tests:
- Physical and mechanical inspection (visual checklist),
- Geometric Accuracy,
- High Contrast Spatial Resolution,
- Slice Thickness Accuracy,
- Slice Position Accuracy,
- Image Intensity Uniformity,
- Percent Signal Ghosting,
- Low Contrast Object Detectability,
- Inter-Slice RF Interference,
- Magnetic Filed Homogeneity,
- RF Coils' Performance:
- Volume coils' signal-to-noise ratio,
- Volume coils' image uniformity,
- Volume coils' ghosting ratios, and
- Surface coils' signal-to-noise ratio.
- Laser printer quality control (QC) and hard copy display,
- Soft copy display,
- Evaluation of MRI safety – environment and posting, and
- Review all preventative maintenance (PM) and upgrades since last survey.
Establishment of a weekly, monthly, and quarterly Quality Control Program (QCP) for each MRI unit. The frequency and performance of QCP testing based on the ACR and AAPM recommendations. The QCP program includes, but not limited to, the following:
- Weekly evaluation of ACR Phantom,
- Weekly laser printer evaluation,
- Weekly visual checklist,
- Monthly PM schedules and summary log, and
- Quarterly Radiologists, MRI Manager, Physicist Responsibilities - MRI quality control checklist
