Elevating Healthcare: Affidea's Commitment to Patient Safety

Affidea recognises the pivotal role of innovation and patient-centric care in transforming the healthcare experience and is committed to setting new benchmarks that prioritise patient safety while offering best-in-class care

Key points

• Radiation safety is not a matter to be taken lightly. Numerous studies highlight the rising concerns regarding cumulative radiation exposure.
• Affidea is dedicated to pioneering safe imaging while maintaining the highest diagnostic standards, and its Dose Excellence Program is a testament to this commitment.
• The Dose Excellence Program represents a harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology and unwavering commitment to patient well-being.
• Affidea’s dedication to safety and radiation protection has earned it prestigious recognition from the European Society of Radiology (ESR), and its medical centres have been awarded a 5-star certification.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern medicine that aims to improve the healthcare of our patients, where ground-breaking advancements continually redefine the industry, one fundamental principle remains unshakable: the commitment to patient safety and the delivery of high-quality care.

Radiation safety is not a matter to be taken lightly. Numerous recent studies in radiology highlighted the rising concerns regarding cumulative radiation exposure in patients due to the increased use of diagnostic ionising imaging procedures such as CT scans and X-rays, emphasising the necessity of optimising doses without compromising diagnostic accuracy.

Affidea Group’s commitment to patient safety has been our proactive response since 2014 to this growing concern. It is not only about meeting the European regulatory guidelines but also about exceeding them to ensure the utmost safety and quality of care for our patients.

At Affidea, we are dedicated to pioneering safe imaging while maintaining the highest diagnostic standards, and our Dose Excellence Program is a testament to this commitment. As a company, we are hugely impressed by the remarkable professionalism and high standards of our clinical colleagues, who are guided daily by a high responsibility to keep our patients safe while offering the best possible care.

The Dose Excellence Program represents a harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology and unwavering commitment to patient well-being. It prioritises patients’ safety and minimises the radiation exposure associated with CT scans while preserving diagnostic accuracy.

Our medical centres are dedicated to setting new standards in the industry, and they actively participate in the EuroSafe Imaging Stars initiative—an endeavour by the European Society of Radiology to create a network of top-tier medical providers with stringent safety protocols related to radiation protection. Here, patient safety lies at the heart of the medical practice, striking the optimal balance between radiation dose and diagnostic confidence.

Our dedication to safety and radiation protection has earned us prestigious recognition from the European Society of Radiology (ESR), and our medical centres have been awarded a 5-star certification, a symbol of excellence proudly displayed on the Eurosafe Wall of Stars. 90% of the centres recognised for their commitment to radiation protection and patient safety across Europe are part of the Affidea Group. We salute and welcome the efforts made by the other stand-alone imaging providers who joined us in investing resources to ensure patient safety where ionising imaging procedures are performed.

The reach of Affidea’s Dose Excellence programme is vast, spanning 13 European countries. Each month, over 75,000 examinations are conducted under the Dose Excellence Program. The primary objective here is clear - to perform ionising imaging procedures with the lowest possible radiation dose while upholding diagnostic image quality.

Real-Time Data Monitoring

What truly distinguishes Affidea is its commitment to real-time data monitoring by experts in physics and imaging. Affidea proudly stands as a unique healthcare provider in Europe to record and monitor radiation dose data for all CT systems, patients, and the countries in which we operate. This commitment extends beyond data collection to determining personalised radiation doses for each patient, enabled by innovative digital software.

Furthermore, Affidea has set radiation dose reference levels by anatomical region, clinical indication, and body mass index in all CT examinations, surpassing the guidelines established by European regulatory authorities. Notably, an impressive 92% of the examinations for anatomical regions such as the chest, heart, brain, and abdomen adhere to Affidea’s lower radiation dose limits, surpassing national reference levels.

The success of the Dose Excellence Programme rests upon four pillars:

• Continuous Training: We are placing great importance on the ongoing training of our medical staff, ensuring they are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practices in patient safety.
• Modern Equipment: We consistently invest in state-of-the-art equipment, guaranteeing that the latest-generation technology is employed for diagnostic procedures.
• Continuous Monitoring: Our commitment extends beyond the program’s implementation; it actively monitors its performance and takes corrective actions whenever necessary.
• Cross-Specialty Collaboration: Patient safety is the driving force behind Affidea’s clinical practices, underpinned by rigorous standards and medical protocols that enable the highest level of care. This is made possible through collaboration among all specialities, fostering the best possible outcomes.
• Peer Review: We ensure not only the continuity of our high standards but also the constant refinement of our practices. This internal scrutiny fosters an environment of continuous improvement, where the collective expertise of our medical professionals ensures that every aspect of patient care is meticulously reviewed, analysed, and enhanced to guarantee a high level of safety and quality.

As we move forward, we recognise the pivotal role of innovation and patient-centric care in transforming the healthcare experience. We’re not content with merely meeting standards; we are driven to exceed them, setting new benchmarks that prioritise patient safety while offering best-in-class care.

The success of our Dose Excellence Programme is not solely measured by awards; it’s reflected in the lives we touch and the care we provide. Every patient who walks through our doors can trust that their well-being is at the core of everything we do.

Disclosure of conflict of interest: Point-of-View articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and they are part of the HealthManagement.org Corporate Engagement or Educational Community Programme.