Page 10 - JRCERT Organizational Reports

Quality Improvement Program

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) maintains a quality
improvement program for the JRCERT accreditation process. In doing so, the JRCERT evaluates the
effectiveness of the accreditation process, maintains a program for quality improvement to fulfill its
public responsibilities and to retain its recognition as an accrediting agency, and considers changes or
improvements in its policies and procedures based on the results of the assessment process and
feedback from communities of interest.

The JRCERT monitors the accreditation process by tracking the frequency of cited accreditation
standards and conducting reliability and validity studies. Data is gathered through evaluation
instruments, annual reports, and other mechanisms to improve the accreditation process. Through the
quality improvement program, the JRCERT evaluates the competence of site visitors, evaluates the
suitability of site visit arrangements as perceived by program officials, and evaluates the quality and
effectiveness of the accreditation process. The JRCERT also provides the chief executive officer of
the sponsor and the program director with an opportunity to comment on the quality, integrity, and
conduct of the site visit and the accreditation process.

The JRCERT evaluates the competence of site visitors using the following criteria: preparation for the
site visit; knowledge of the Self-Study Report; interpretation of the relevant accreditation standards;
interaction with sponsor and program officials and faculty; interaction with other team members;
assumption of leadership (Team Chair); and quality of written Report of Site Visit Team Findings
(RSVTF) (including timely submission, objectivity and adequacy, adequacy in identifying program
strengths, adequacy in identifying program areas of concern, freedom from bias, and focus on the
relevant accreditation standards). The JRCERT assesses competency through team chair evaluations
by team member(s)/apprentice(s); team member(s) evaluation by team chair; sponsor/program
officials’ evaluation of site visitors, JRCERT employees and the accreditation process; and the
accuracy of the RSVTF.

The JRCERT evaluates the suitability of the site visit arrangements as perceived by program officials
using the following criteria: timely scheduling of the site visit, timely assignment of site visit team,
appropriate number of site visitors and appropriate duration of the site visit for the size and complexity
of the program, and timely communication between team chair and program director for agenda
development.

The JRCERT evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the accreditation process using the following
criteria: provision of clearly defined instructions for use of the Self-Study Report and the RSVTF,
appropriate communication between JRCERT employees and sponsor/program officials, availability
of JRCERT employees for consultation purposes, accuracy of the report of findings letter,
accreditation actions clearly communicated to sponsor/program officials, and benefits of programmatic
accreditation recognized by the sponsor/program.

The JRCERT has identified six goals as part of its quality improvement program: to increase
knowledge and understanding of the Standards; to maintain consistency of accreditation
recommendations and awards; to maintain a consistent accreditation process; to have appropriate,
relevant Standards; to complete the accreditation process within timeframes identified in policy; and to
provide an accreditation process that produces a high degree of customer satisfaction.

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