Monday, September 15, 2014

Quality Breast Health Care Isn't Just a Slogan ...

We passed with flying colors!!! The Texas Department of State Health Services recently conducted an inspection of The Rose's two imaging centers and our mobile program.  All of the digital equipment were inspected. In addition, technologists and radiologists credentials were verified and all quality assurance and quality control tests were examined and found compliant. Because no violations were found, The Rose was granted a certificate of inspection.
Here's a note written by Dorothy Gibbons regarding longtime staff member Amy Rigsby and her leadership of the praiseworthy team ...
Dear Team,
As I read the many emails of Congratulations to Amy and her team (most deserved!) about passing the annual inspections, it struck me that most of us don’t realize the full depth and implications of the state inspection. 
First of all, if we had not passed, we would be closing our doors today.  It’s really that simple and that serious.  
Imagine if The Rose were not able to care for 35,000 plus women each year. Imagine if we all were looking for other jobs.  Yes the annual inspection is a big deal!
But the most important part of every annual inspection is that it guarantees that The Rose has met the highest standards of quality in mammography.  
It takes a whole heck of a lot to pass these inspections year after year and if we don’t pass we can’t be accredited—which is the Gold Standard in our field!
Passing inspection with NO VIOLATIONS means the highest quality of imaging for our patients.  We should all be proud!
It means that the machines and the technologists running those machines and the physicians who depend on the quality of the films to ensure their accuracy have all met or exceeded every test and every requirement.
It means that we do not have any issues with radiation control. It means that all parts of the mammography systems function at their highest.  Most community based breast centers average 2 machines, we have 10!!  Each of those machines had to be tested and pass.  Most community based breast centers have one or two physicians reading, last year we had 10 different physicians, and our documentation for each of them and their qualifications had to be flawless!
It means the Technologists have kept current with licensing and continuing education units and are qualified to perform the studies. 
It means that every morning, before even the first patient can be seen, our Quality Control Technologists have to run tests, document the findings, evaluate the levels, all to be sure that our systems are within the regulations.  Not a single patient could be screened if any of our quality control measures are out of line.
In the Centers, those lead QC Techs are Paula Miller at The Rose Galleria and Laura Alcala at Featherwood.  Donna Fehl used to be the lead QC Tech for Mobile and now Ashlyn Henry is handling that role.  But all of the Mobile Techs have to do some part of the QC in the field, so many thanks to Tran Lam and Pepper Darnall also.
Even though she will have a fit with me for sending this email out to everyone; we need to recognize Amy who has taken us through over two decades of inspections—without a single violation! 
For all the ways you’ve made sure our patients receive the highest quality, thank you Amy!
Again…Congratulations to all!