The IAC is a nonprofit organization in operation to evaluate and accredit facilities that provide diagnostic imaging, therapeutic and interventional procedures, thus improving the quality of patient care provided in private offices, clinics and hospitals where such services are performed. The IAC provides accreditation programs for vascular testing, echocardiography, nuclear/PET, MRI, diagnostic CT, dental CT, carotid stenting, vascular interventional, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular catheterization and image-guided procedures. The IAC programs for accreditation are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting healthcare and all support one common mission: Improving healthcare through accreditation. Committed to its mission through a rigorous peer review process, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites since its inception in 1991.
A nationally recognized, CMS-approved nonprofit organization, IAC exists solely as an accrediting body and is not a membership society.
IAC Director of Marketing/Communications Tamara Sloper recently shared more details and insights regarding the organization.
Q: How does your company stand out in the imaging space?
SLOPER: As the only CMS-approved accrediting body that provides a clinical peer review of case studies (with pathology) for diagnostic quality, report accuracy and report completeness, IAC provides the most comprehensive review process in the accreditation industry. For many facilities, simply meeting minimum standards is not enough; they want to go the extra mile and be evaluated at a high level. Facilities accredited by IAC demonstrate a meaningful commitment to quality and patient safety; one that patients and referring physicians can rely on.
IAC continues to grow and experience success through the multi-specialty, intersocietal collaboration of a vast array of physicians, technologists, sonographers, physicists and numerous other medical professionals upon which it was founded 35 years ago. These individuals represent more than 40 medical specialties that serve as sponsoring organizations, contributing to IAC’s multi-stakeholder efforts. This multi-stakeholder involvement ensures that the accreditation standards are built by and for the specialties they serve, reflecting a consensus among experts. This collaborative model allows the IAC to develop and revise standards that are relevant and effective for each of the modalities accredited.
Q: What is on the horizon for IAC?
SLOPER: The IAC Standards are continuously reviewed and updated to ensure they are reflective of current practice and societal guidelines. Acknowledging the ongoing, rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, the IAC Board of Directors established an AI Task Force in 2024. Developed through the collective expertise of the task force, a guidance document was created. The document, approved by both the IAC Board of Directors and each division board, was published April 1, 2025, as an addendum to each set of IAC Standards. The guidance document serves as a recommendation for IAC-accredited facilities utilizing AI technology.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidance Document was created to assure the quality and safety of care delivery when using AI applications for direct-patient care (clinical*) purposes, each facility should create and follow policies and procedures that address:
- Training for personnel who use AI;
- Security of AI software, updates, HIPAA considerations, etc.;
- AI for Quality Improvement (if applicable);
- Appropriate use for each AI application; and
- Governance (authority to make decisions regarding AI implementation).
*Clinical use of AI includes image acquisition, image processing/enhancement, image interpretation, report generation, risk assessment of prognosis, patient history, identification of critical values/results and equipment quality control.
Q: Is there anything else you would like ICE Magazine readers to know?
SLOPER: IAC utilizes a rigorous clinical peer review process to ensure that quality and safe practices are established for improved patient outcomes. The process seeks to advance appropriate utilization, standardization and quality of diagnostic imaging, interventional and therapeutic procedures. Feedback from surveys conducted among IAC-accredited facilities demonstrates that participation in the process has a positive impact on various quality metrics. Improvements in report standardization, adherence to guidelines, test standardization, report completeness, identification of deficiencies, improved staff knowledge, report timeliness and image quality, as reported, contribute significantly to better patient outcomes.
In closing, IAC’s customer service model is designed to be a partnership with facilities, focusing on education, support and continuous quality improvement. Those working on their applications appreciate the IAC staff’s strong clinical background and that they are readily available via phone, email and online chat to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the accreditation process. IAC understands that this level of accessibility is especially advantageous for busy imaging professionals who need application support while managing their patient care responsibilities.Â
For more information, visit Intersocietal.org.
