E1672. Getting Ready for EQUIP: Positioning and Beyond
Authors
Harnoor Singh;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Abeer Abdelhafez;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Niloofar Karbasian;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Angel Su;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Steven Lee;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Charisma Desai;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Claudia Cotes;
The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston
Background
The Enhancing Quality Using the Inspection Program (EQUIP) is a mandated inspection criteria added to the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) in 2016 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EQUIP’s goal is to emphasize the importance and assure the evaluation of image quality, which was the primary cause of failure of accreditation of facilities by the MQSA. It is composed of three questions with sub questions that highlight the importance of clinical image quality, quality assurance, and quality control. It is crucial for breast imaging facilities to understand and develop a system to prepare for accreditation, which not only requires appropriate responses to the EQUIP questions during inspection but also periodic internal evaluation to ensure quality is up to standard. The purpose of this exhibit is to understand what EQUIP entails, review important determinants of image quality with emphasis in positioning, and provide an example of an internal system that can be implemented by breast imaging facilities to ensure inspection passes.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
1. Understand why EQUIP was implemented and importance for image quality. 2. Review specific EQUIP requirements including documentation and procedures. 3. Review the role of participants of the EQUIP inspection. 4. Provide a suggested system to address EQUIP.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
The exhibit will include what is EQUIP and what does it involve, positioning 101: most facilities fail due to positioning deficiencies, responsibilities of those who participate in the EQUIP process, and EQUIP: how do we do it and benefits of our system.
Conclusion
The MQSA inspection criteria known as EQUIP emphasizes the importance of continuous image quality evaluation within breast imaging facilities in the United States. Although it is simply composed of 3 questions that facilities must answer, the process that must be performed to answer these questions is crucial in maintaining an internal image quality control. By having a system in place for EQUIP, facilities will not only pass the EQUIP portion of the inspection, but will also be able to provide periodic feedback to all the personnel who participate in the system for continuous quality improvement.
