Multi-disciplinary Education for Improving Quality of Nuclear Medicine Practice Based on the European Union Regulations and the International Atomic Energy Agency Programs /EDUQUAN

ended

As a part of the integration into the EU, the national healthcare system, regulatory bodies, insurers and other third-party entities in Serbia are mandating the implementation of the quality indicators in medical practice, adherence to quality standards and compliance with the directions provided by the EU regulatory bodies. Meeting such mandates is essential for medical fields that employ advanced technology and a multi-disciplinary team who have to exercise top safety precautions. Therefore, specialized education on effective and continuous quality improvement (QI) strategies is essential for the nuclear medicine practice since it utilizes radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment of different diseases in multidisciplinary settings comprising nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, radiopharmacists, electronic engineers, nuclear medicine technologists and nurses. European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has developed an education aimed at ensuring continuous QI of the entire multidisciplinary team in all areas of the nuclear medicine practice. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also been supporting the nuclear medicine education in order to bring them up to the international standards. The two entities have joined efforts by the agreement signed in 2017. Through the finalized Jean Monnet project (586750-2017) we have been conducting education of medical students and nuclear medicine physicians according to the EANM guidelines. To fully meet the EU and IAEA standards, there is a need to broaden such education to other professionals involved in the nuclear medicine practice, namely, nuclear medicine trainees, medical physicists, electronic engineers, radiopharmacists, technologists and nurses. Specialized education and introduction of quality audit and improvement activities are the two essential missing components for elevating the nuclear medicine practice in our region to the level of the EU standards.