Health experts assessed diagnostic radiology services at 16 hospitals in Qatar in January as part of an IAEA Quality Improvement Quality Assurance Audit for Diagnostic Radiology Improvement and Learning (QUAADRIL) mission. The week-long audit represents the first time the IAEA has conducted such a review at the national level and its findings will help to further improve medical imaging practices in Qatar.
"To be ready for the IAEA's QUAADRIL audit, our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes, conducting training sessions, a detailed in-house audit, alongside reviews of all imaging protocols, policies, pathways and quality assurance processes," said Maryam Al-Kuwari, lead counterpart of the QUAADRIL mission. "We also made sure our technology was up to date, meeting the IAEA's standards. This involved coordinating with different levels of staff and sections to ensure that every component of the imaging department was operating at the highest international standard."
From X rays used in routine procedures to CT scanners deployed to take detailed images of internal body structures, the many applications of ionizing radiation for medical imaging are a vital part of modern public health systems. However, the quality and safety of diagnostic radiology relies upon well-calibrated equipment, proper clinical procedures and qualified professionals to minimize patient doses while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Members of the QUAADRIL team toured hospital facilities and interviewed staff as part of their assessment of diagnostic radiology services. (Photo: IAEA)
From 19 to 26 January, the IAEA and international experts, alongside Qatari counterparts, assessed diagnostic radiology services at 16 hospitals under the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) - Qatar's primary public healthcare provider, operating 70 per cent of the country's hospitals. The team reviewed clinical practices, equipment calibration, and staff protocols, while also conducting interviews with medical professionals. "The IAEA is committed to enhancing global radiology standards by integrating the QUAADRIL principles into radiological practices worldwide. We strive to ensure that all radiological services meet international benchmarks through robust quality assurance, targeted training, and innovative technology transfer, regardless of regional resources," said Virginia Tsapaki, a radiology medical physicist in the IAEA's Division of Human Health and a member of the QUAADRIL team to Qatar. "Our mission is to empower healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to deliver effective and sustainable radiological care that meets today's needs and anticipates tomorrow's challenges."
Organized through the IAEA's Human Health Programme and under an ongoing national technical cooperation (TC) project, the comprehensive audit considered all the procedures related to the delivery of clinical diagnostic radiology services - from the moment patients are referred for examination to the analysis of the final image results. The QUAADRIL team also reviewed radiation protection and safety schemes, assessed the calibration and instrumentation of equipment, and interviewed doctors on their quality management practices.
"The organization of the QUAADRIL mission showcases the enhanced collaboration between the IAEA, Qatar's Ministry of Public Health and the local team of clinical professionals since the signing of Practical Arrangements in 2023," said Linda Eid, IAEA Programme Management Officer for Qatar.
"The IAEA's QUAADRIL audit enhances our organization's capabilities and underscores our commitment to providing the safest and most accurate diagnostic services to our patients," said Amal Al Obaidli, Chairperson of the Corporation's Clinical Imaging Department.
"By being part of the QUAADRIL programme, we are not just improving our technical and clinical capabilities, but we are also contributing to the global advancement of medical imaging practices," Al Obaidli said. "We are committed to continuous improvement, and this mission has been an invaluable learning experience for all of us. The successful achievement of the IAEA's QUAADRIL audit with a recognition of excellence reflects the dedication of our entire clinical imaging team, as well as the exceptional support from Hamad Medical Corporation in ensuring that we continuously meet and exceed the highest standards in clinical imaging."
The capacities of 16 hospitals across the country were included in the IAEA audit. (Photo: IAEA)
QUAADRIL
In 2010, the IAEA developed a dedicated comprehensive quality assurance methodology for diagnostic imaging - QUAADRIL - which centers around a team comprising a radiologist, radiographer and medical physicist specializing in diagnostic radiology.
At the request of a facility, IAEA QUAADRIL missions assess the facility's procedures, data and infrastructure-helping to improve the quality of services provided. QUAADRIL is offered free of charge to the assessed facility and culminate in a written report with recommendations for the relevant professionals.
Through its human health programme, the IAEA also provides comprehensive audits in other medical uses of ionizing radiation, namely in radiation oncology (QUATRO) and nuclear medicine (QUANUM)-which are similarly offered free of charge to countries and facilities around the world.
