PROQUAD: accreditation program of the Brazilian society for clinical densitometry.
In 1996, the Brazilian Society for Clinical Densitometry (SBDens) developed an accreditation program to be applied to all densitometry centers, under the supervision of the certified physicians from SBDens. This program is named Programa Nacional de Qualidade em Densitometria (PROQUAD) and was developed to verify at least three aspects of the bone densitometry practice: the functioning of equipment, the methods used by technicians in performing the scans, and how the physicians are analyzing the scans and interpreting the results. From the 360 certified physicians who are members of SBDens, nearly one-third are participating in this program. The final purpose of PROQUAD is to provide approved centers with a seal, to be stamped on their examinations. The seal will signify to referring physicians, and the community, which centers are working under high standards of quality. It has been 2 yr since PROQUAD was established, and the data obtained confirm the improvement of quality in the practice of densitometry in Brazil. Any input from other societies that could improve PROQUAD is welcomed. Ensuring good densitometry practices is a goal for which all densitometry societies must strive.
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Centro de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa da Osteoporose do Espórito Santo Vitória (ES) Brazil. seragi@tropical.com.br
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000592:standards*; D000068:Accreditation; D015519:Bone Density; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D012955:Societies, Medical