Hackensack University Medical Center’s Imaging and Radiology Department was reaccredited in 2019 by the American College of Radiology (ACR) as a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence™ (DICOE). The hospital was the first in the United States to receive this honor in 2013 and—following a rigorous site visit and comprehensive evaluation by the ACR—became the first center to receive reaccreditation. The DICOE program takes a department or practice to the next level of imaging efficiency, safety, and quality care.

What does it mean to be a DICOE?

We Care for All Patients
There isn’t a single patient who comes through the Hackensack University Medical Center network who isn’t touched by Imaging and Radiology at some point during the experience.

We Are Committed to the Highest Image Quality, Patient Care, and Safety
DICOE accreditation demonstrates Hackensack University Medical Center’s commitment to the best possible imaging and quality patient care of the highest standard during every step of the process—from patient registration and performance of the imaging exam to interactions between healthcare providers and patients, generation of medical images and their transmission to radiologists, enhanced radiologist access to patients’ clinical information, and communication with referring physicians and the patient to close the loop.

Our Radiologists Are Visible Members of the Patient Care Team
The DICOE distinction recognizes the changing role of the radiologist in patient care. In today’s healthcare environment, patients have become savvier and better educated about their health. Our radiologists are interacting more frequently with patients, and more patients are asking to speak with their radiologists.

We Are Maximizing Our Technologies
Becoming a DICOE does not necessarily mean the latest technologies, but rather maximizing the technology we have to ensure we achieve its greatest utility. For example, Hackensack University Medical Center is one of the greatest utilizers of computed tomography (CT) scanning, generating lots of data. By participating in the Dose Index Registry^® (a requirement of DICOE accreditation), we can compare our CT dose indices to regional and national values. We examine these data to see how we are performing and using these exams, applying our findings to continuously improve the patient experience.

We Limit Radiation to the Minimum Dose Needed
DICOEs must participate in Image Wisely^® and Image Gently^®, initiatives designed to promote the effective and safe use of imaging exams requiring radiation (such as CT scans and x-rays)—Image Wisely for adult patients and Image Gently for pediatric patients. Even though medical imaging exams that use radiation are extremely safe, our team goes a step further to ensure that the doses of radiation used in each scan are absolutely needed and vital to the outcome of each patient’s care. These initiatives also educate practitioners about other possible imaging approaches, such as ultrasound and MRI, that may in some cases be alternatives to radiation-based methods.

We Are Applying These Principles Across Our Network
We are leveraging the knowledge we amass about safe, high-quality imaging at Hackensack University Medical Center and planning to expand it across the Hackensack Meridian Health Network. Through our Imaging Council, our teams share their experiences across the network to promote uniform standards. This means the best imaging for every patient at every network site.