Article Figures & Data
Figures
- FIGURE 1.
Technologists’ survey responses when asked what 3 words or phrases come to mind when thinking of quality in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The larger the text font, the more frequently word was used.
- FIGURE 2.
Quality measure performance, effectiveness, and frequency.
- FIGURE 3.
Respondent level of agreement with 7 quality statements.
- FIGURE 4.
Minimum education standard for nuclear medicine technologists.
Tables
Variable n (%) Variable n (%) Membership status 3,811 Work setting 2,481 SNMMI-TS member 1,609 (41.2) Hospital (academic/community) 1,501 (60.5) Former member 1,466 (37.6) Nonhospital (private/outpatient) 722 (29.1) Never a member 736 (18.9) Other 258 (10.4) Current position 3,906 Area of expertise 2,614 Staff technologist 1,743 (44.6) Nuclear medicine 1,663 (63.6) Chief/lead technologist 1,237 (31.7) Cardiology 532 (20.4) Manager/administrator 213 (5.4%) Molecular imaging +oncology 283 (10.8) Educator/instructor 104 (2.7) Radiology 68 (2.6) Student 64 (1.6) Medical physics 23 (0.9) Researcher 33 (0.8) Radiopharmacy 14 (0.5) Unemployed 157 (4.0) Other 31 (1.2) Retired 81 (2.1) Years working in field 2,601 Other 274 (7.0) <1 120 (4.6) % time working in nuclear medicine 2,499 2–5 336 (12.9) <50% 405 (16.2) 6–10 447 (17.2) 50%–80% 401 (16.0) 11–20 686 (26.4) >80% 1,693 (67.7) >20 1,012 (38.9) Certifications Education 2,660 NMTCB (CNMT) 2,543 (63.4) Certificate 118 (4.4) ARRT (RT(N)) 1,467 (36.6) Associate’s degree 758 (28.5) Specialty Bachelor’s degree 1,437 (54.0) CT 394 (9.8) Master’s degree or higher 347 (13.0) PET 032 (6.0) Currently licensed 1,977 NCT 133 (3.3) Yes 1,882 (95.2%) MRI 73 (1.8) No 95 (4.8) None 38 (1.4) Sex 618 State licensure required 2,746 Female 1,590 (60.7) Yes 1,997 (72.7) Male 1,028 (39.3) No 656 (23.9) Unsure/outside of United States 93 (3.4) Age (y) 2651 <25 67 (2.5) 25–34 574 (21.7) 35–44 709 (26.7) 45–54 616 (23.2) 55–64 562 (21.2) >65 123 (4.6) NMTCB = Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board; CNMT = Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist; ARRT = American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; NCT = Nuclear Cardiology Technologist.
- TABLE 2
Definition of 5 Distinct Quality Terms That Are Often Confused That Should Not Be Used Interchangeably
Term Definition Quality care Care based on scientific, medical evidence that improves the health and life of the patient while also considering the patient’s preferences. QI The formal process of examining and then improving the performance or enhancing patient care based on the analysis of data. QC Procedures to ensure that equipment or processes adhere to established standards. Quality assessment The evaluation of the quality of care. Quality assurance The processes or programs intended to improve or assure the quality of patient care through evaluation or assessment. Aim Definition Safe Avoidance of injuries or harm from care that is intended to help patients Efficient Avoidance of waste, which includes wasting equipment, supplies, ideas, time, and energy Effective Provision of care based on scientific knowledge and evidence along with the avoidance of care that is not likely to benefit the patient Personalized or patient-centered Provision of care that respects the patient’s values and responds to the patient’s preferences and needs Timely Reduction of time waiting and potentially harmful delays in care for those who give and receive care Equitable Provision of care where quality does not vary based on characteristics such as sex, ethnicity, geographic location, or socioeconomic status Priority Long-term goal Make care safe by reducing harm from care Decrease hospital admissions and readmissions Reduce medical errors and harm from medical care Reduce inappropriate or unnecessary care Ensure patients and families are engaged in care decisions Improve patient experience Use shared decision making between providers and patients Enable patients in managing their care Make communication and coordination of care effective Improve communication and transitions across settings Improve quality of life for chronically ill and disabled Integrate care across communities and reduce health disparity Promote prevention of leading causes of death Improve cardiovascular disease health socially, economically, and environmentally Promote healthy lifestyle Work with communities to promote use of best practices Promote community interventions and community health Make health care more affordable Ensure quality, accessibility, and affordability of care Reduce waste and fraud Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services National Quality Strategy 2016 (20).
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