The process has taken longer for older sites with unique archival media. For such facilities, the ACR has to send a physicist to the site to process the phantom data, which is expensive and time-consuming. Obviously, if you have a higher field old magnet you have a little bit of an advantage over a lower field old magnet. The bottom line is that we're going for systems that have never been upgraded in ten or twelve years. T magnets that have passed this program.
Assistance is available for facilities and physicians that have questions about the process.
The ACR has a telephone number staffed with phone counselors. In addition, many MRI equipment manufacturers are setting up assistance programs. Bradley says that he's seen GE, Hitachi, Siemens, Picker, and others rallying to help MRI centers gain ACR accreditation. All of them basically say, 'Send us your phantom material if you have any questions. Bradley speculates that, in the future, the MRI accreditation program will be opened to accredit specialist nonradiologists reading in their area, provided that they have had the proper training.