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Learn the basics of a mammography medical outcomes audit

Healthcare Auditing Weekly, June 29, 2004

All FDA-certified mammography facilities (there are more than 9,000 in the U.S.) must meet the following auditing requirements annually to comply with the Mammography Quality Standards Act:

• Maintain an auditing program that tracks and documents data.
• Conduct at least one audit for the facility every 12 months.
• Conduct separate audits that gather data on each individual physician interpreting mammograms.
• Collect and record data on the collective group of physicians interpreting mammograms.
• Designate an interpreting physician to review the audits.
• Include a step in your audit to help you review data for all mammograms performed.
• Correlate all mammograms interpreted with positive findings with your pathology results.

If your facility becomes aware of any mammogram not interpreted with positive findings that subsequently is diagnosed with breast cancer, you must follow-up on the pathology results and review mammogram films taken at the facility prior to diagnosis.

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from the book Mammography Risk Management Manual, published by HCPro Inc. This new book brings you alternative auditing procedures, case studies, and easy solutions to quality control issues to keep your mammography department in compliance and out of court. Click here for more information or to order.

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