The medical imaging accreditation program was launched in 2004 and is jointly administered by NATA and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR).

The RANZCR/NATA program affords accreditation to sites who demonstrate "good practice" in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and the RANZCR Accreditation Standards for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. Demonstration of compliance is through a peer review process which includes on-site review. The program is open to all types of diagnostic imaging services and covers the modalities of general radiography, ultrasound, mammography, computerised tomography, interventional radiology, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine and bone mineral densitometry.

Background

In 1997, the RANZCR began developing a program to enhance and continually improve the quality of practices offering medical imaging services. This program became known as the Quality and Accreditation Program.

The RANZCR appointed an Accreditation Guidelines and Quality Committee (AGQC), consisting of RANZCR Fellows, to oversee the development of the program. With the support of RANZCR members and the secretariat, the Committee developed the set of professional, technical and administrative standards referred to collectively as the Accreditation Standards for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. It is intended that these standards continually evolve as new technologies and professional developments emerge.

To afford recognition to practices satisfying the standards and to facilitate administration of the program, the RANZCR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NATA in 1999.