ACR-RADS Programs Current State and Future Opportunities: Defining a Governance Structure to Enable Sustained Success.

In the spring of 2021, the ACR approved a proposal to improve the consistency, transparency, and administrative oversight of the ACR Reporting and Data Systems (RADS). A working group of experts and stakeholders was convened to draft this governance document. Major advances include (1) forming a RADS Steering Committee, (2) establishing minimum requirements and evidence standards for new and existing RADS, and (3) outlining a governance structure and communication strategy for RADS.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Methodology.

The ACR Appropriateness Criteria® (AC) are evidence-based guidelines that guide physicians on appropriate image ordering. The AC development and revision process follows a transparent methodology that includes the systematic analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of well-established guidelines standards (the Institute of Medicine's Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust) and methodologies (the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) to rate the benefits and potential risks, or appropriateness, of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In the October 2020 release, the methodology is applied in the development of 198 AC documents covering 1,760 clinical scenarios to make more than 8,815 recommendations, authored by more than 600 members representing multiple expert societies, and using more than 6,200 references. The ACR is recognized as a qualified provider-led entity by CMS for the development of appropriate use criteria. This paper describes the methodology and illustrates adherence to the process in the development of the AC.

A Secondary Analysis to Identify Patient-Centered Outcomes in the ACR's Appropriateness Criteria.

CONTEXT: There is a growing body of literature indicating imaging testing can affect patients cognitively, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. The extent to which these patient-centered outcomes (PCOs) are reported in the imaging literature is unclear. Identifying PCOs may facilitate shared decision making around imaging testing. OBJECTIVE: To identify PCOs across a spectrum of clinical topics included in the ACR's Appropriateness Criteria (AC). METHODS: We systematically reviewed AC evidence tables for eligible articles of studies conducted in any clinical setting in high-income countries. Included studies reported PCOs occurring as a direct or indirect result of an imaging test performed for any reason (eg, diagnosis, screening, surveillance, or staging). PCOs and the methods used to measure them were extracted through a secondary analysis and descriptive synthesis. RESULTS: Our search identified 89 articles that reported outcomes of radiation exposure (n = 37), downstream testing (n = 20), complications (n = 19), incidental findings (n = 10), quality of life (n = 7), physical discomfort (n = 5), patient values and experiences (n = 4), patient financial and time costs (n = 4), psychosocial outcomes (n = 4), and test duration (n = 2). These outcomes were rarely reported from the patient perspective and were measured using a range of standardized or validated and nonstandardized methods. CONCLUSIONS: We identified few PCOs incorporated in the AC. Our findings reflect the historical emphasis of diagnostic research on accuracy, clinical utility, and selected outcomes (eg, adverse events). As radiology moves to a more patient-centered approach, it will be important to measure PCOs reported directly from patients.

Clinical decision support: the role of ACR Appropriateness Criteria.

Clinical decision support is a way to decrease inappropriate imaging exams and promote judicious use of imaging resources. The adoption of clinical decision support will be incentivized by requiring the use of approved mechanisms to qualify for Medicare reimbursement starting in January 2020. Insurance providers base their reimbursement policies on Medicare, so clinical decision support could soon become relevant to pediatric imaging. We present the process behind the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria (a set of appropriate use criteria developed by the ACR) that will form the basis for software that can be used to fulfill the criteria for clinical decision support. For most organizations, this software is expected to be the easiest way to implement clinical decision support. Clinical decision support will affect how providers order imaging exams. This article should help readers understand how clinical decision support is expected to change the practice of the ordering providers, how the ACR Appropriateness Criteria are related to clinical decision support and how the ACR Appropriateness Criteria are developed. This will help the interpreting radiologist better communicate with the referring clinician, including informing the latter about how the clinical decision support software is making decisions.