1. INTRODUCTION:
The Medical Specialty Advisory Committee on Radiology has developed the following Practice Parameters/Risk Management Protocols for use by participating radiological practitioners in the State of Maine. In so doing, the definition of Practice Parameters of the American Medical Association has been adopted and applies to all the parameters and guidelines set forth here:
Practice parameters are strategies of patient management, developed to assist physicians in clinical decision-making. Practice parameters include standards, guidelines, and other patient management strategies. Standards are accepted principles for patient management. Guidelines are recommendations for patient management which identify a particular management strategy or a range of management strategies. Other strategies for patient management include practice policies and practice options.
It is the opinion of the committee that these practice parameters, so defined and developed, define principles of practice which should generally produce high quality radiological care. The radiologist may exceed an existing standard as determined by the individual patient and available resources. The standards should not be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure or course of conduct must be made by the radiologist in light of all circumstances presented by the individual situation. Adherence to these standards will not assure successful outcome in every situation. It is prudent to document the rationale for any deviation from these standards in the patient's radiology record.
Four practice parameters have been adopted as of the effective date of these rules, as follows:
1. Screening Mammography
2. Antepartum Ultrasound
3. Outpatient Angiography
4. Performance of Adult Barium Enema Examination.
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