The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare is currently reviewing the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme. Here’s some key insight into what this commission is all about, possible future changes to DIAS, and how you can ensure your practice is best prepared for upcoming changes.
What is DIAS?
Launched in March 2021, DIAS accreditation is designed to set a high standard for healthcare in any practice using medical imaging for diagnostic purposes, from GP, urology, dentistry and cardiology practices to gynaecology and fertility clinics. When accredited, a practice can provide Medicare-funded diagnostic imaging services – and this accreditation needs to be renewed every 4 years.
What is the commission focused on?
In essence, DIAS is there to ensure that the highest standards of patient care and practice management are delivered, minimising the risk of harm to patients and staff while improving patient care. As part of this, a commission has been formed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare to evaluate this and recommend improvements. The commission will develop national safety and quality standards, and as part of this process, is looking at all the existing DIAS accreditation requirements.
What changes can we expect?
During the information gathering phase, all stakeholders and diagnostic imaging professionals were invited to participate in a survey. This survey phase is now closed, and the review process has begun with a focus on identifying quality and safety issues patients faces, improving strategies that will provide patients with safe, high-quality diagnostic imaging services, and possibly changes to the accreditation model itself. One additional possible change is that spot audits may be implemented as part of maintaining DIAS accreditation, so it pays to be prepared.
While we don’t know for certain what changes may be in store, the results of this commission will likely require practices to meet changes required for DIAS certification and maintaining your practice status. This includes practices that provide angiography, CT, fluoroscopy, orthopantomography, MRI, mammography, nuclear medicine, x-ray, and ultrasound services to their patients.
Professional guidance to navigate the changing world of DIAS
With changes to DIAS certification on the horizon, it is more important than ever before to have an expert team navigate your DIAS process. Not only will this ensure that your practice can access Medicare-funded patients, but also provide the highest standards of patient care at the same time.
At Excelsior Accreditation, our specialists can assist you with gaining and maintaining diagnostic imaging accreditation through our professional support services. We can liaise with your team to get the necessary information the process requires and take the administrative burden off your shoulders. We will format your policies and procedures and create relevant, user-friendly policies for all areas of your practice. Additionally, we can manage all aspects of your practice’s compliance for years to come to ensure your practice stays competitive, compliant, and world-class.
