Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has been named a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
The ACR also has accredited Monroe Carell’s pediatric diagnostic imaging program for all available imaging modalities, including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and ultrasound.
“I want to thank each team member for your unwavering commitment to our patients and Vanderbilt’s mission. Your hard work, clinical expertise, and compassionate care have played a pivotal role in earning this esteemed recognition,” said Sumit Pruthi, MBBS, chief of Pediatric Radiology and medical director of Diagnostic Imaging at Monroe Carell and professor of Pediatrics and Radiology.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to your unwavering dedication, exceptional skills, and commitment to providing the highest standards of patient care in diagnostic imaging. Let us cherish this moment of triumph and take pride in our collective achievement. Together, let us continue to excel and positively impact the lives of those we serve.”
The DICOE designation, considered a gold standard of care, is an achievement that goes beyond accreditation to recognize best-quality imaging practices and diagnostic care. This includes a comprehensive assessment of the entire medical imaging enterprise, including structure and outcomes. The DICOE designation recognizes excellence at multiple levels — including the professional staff, the technology and the policies and procedures the organization follows — and superior patient care.
At Monroe Carell, pediatric radiologists, nurses and technologists perform and interpret about 125,000 pediatric imaging exams each year. The experienced team provides the very best in medical imaging with safety at the center of every imaging study and practices the radiation safety principle of “as low as reasonably achievable.” With a dedicated child life specialist, radiology also helps children complete imaging studies sedation-free through the PAWS program (Patient Awake While Scanned).
To receive this elite DICOE distinction, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in all modalities they provide and in which the ACR offers an accreditation program. Another requirement is to participate in the Dose Index Registry® and General Radiology Improvement Database, as well as Image Wisely® and Image Gently®.
The ACR, founded in 1924, devotes its resources to making imaging and radiation therapy safe, effective and accessible to those who need it. Its 38,000 members include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.
