Collaboration between HERCA and COCIR
BRUSSELS – 16 November 2017: HERCA and COCIR are pleased to announce the outcome of their collaboration on optimising Computed Tomography (CT) dose. The collaboration has set out to minimise patient radiation exposure and to improve patient care.
HERCA has published a report on the outcomes of the collaboration between HERCA and COCIR and with other stakeholders. This report and all relevant information can be found on the HERCA website www.herca.org
Sigurdur Magnusson, HERCA Chairman, and Nicole Denjoy, COCIR Secretary General, said: “We welcome these outcomes and fully support this ongoing effective collaboration. We look forward to continuing to work with other stakeholders to help further improve medical radiation safety.”
Following a constructive dialogue with HERCA, COCIR and the CT manufacturers agreed to increase their commitment to patient dose reduction through voluntary commitments in 2011:
- Characterising CT systems standardised benchmarking
- Implementing dose reduction measures in CT
- Implementing dose management and reporting tools
- Providing specific training curricula
The outcomes from these commitments are the following:
For commitment 1, the industry designed a reference phantom to objectively quantify head and body Low Contrast Detectability (LCD). This approach has the potential to quantitatively assess LCD for clinical protocols in the body and in the head in relation to dose. A HERCA panel of advisors (PoA) was closely involved in this commitment, developing a close collaboration with industry. This resulted in the publication of a White Paper on the topic (https://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Computed-Tomography-Image-Quality-CTIQ-Low-Contrast-Detectability-LCD-Assessment-When-Using-Dose-Reduction-Technology.aspx).
For commitments 2 and 3, industry has developed a number of dose reduction and management tools that are now available on modern CT scanners. In addition HERCA published a CT dose optimisation process through education and training.
HERCA position paper on the “Process of CT dose optimisation through education and training and the role of the manufacturers” and addendum.
For commitment 4, CT manufacturers now provide dedicated training on existing and new dose reduction techniques. COCIR participated in three multi-stakeholder meetings on optimising the use of CT. This established a collaboration between COCIR and key stakeholders, with the goal of working together on training and education and the best use of available dose reduction and management tools in daily practice. More information on these multi-stakeholder meetings can be found in this HERCA press release.
COCIR is the European Trade Association representing the medical imaging, health ICT and electromedical industries and subsequently with the four main suppliers of computed tomography (CT) equipment (General Electric, Philips, Siemens and Toshiba). Founded in 1959, COCIR is a non-profit association headquartered in Brussels (Belgium) with a China Desk based in Beijing since 2007. COCIR is unique as it brings together the healthcare, IT and telecommunications industries.
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