ACR Partners with NDSC on Computerized Decision Support

The goal of getting ACR evidence-based imaging appropriateness criteria into the hand of more ordering physicians as they make their clinical decisions is another step closer. On Wednesday, the ACR announced an exclusive agreement with the National Decision Support Company (NDSC) to offer Appropriateness Criteria (AC) in digitally consumable format for computerized ordering and electronic health record (EHR) systems. NDSC will provide the technical platform, support, and licensing of the AC under the name ACR Select. ACR AC is a comprehensive clinical decision support database with more than 130 topics and 614 variant conditions that provide evidence-based guidance for the appropriate utilization of all medical imaging procedures. More than 300 volunteer physicians, representing over 20 radiology and non-radiology specialty organizations, participate on the ACR AC expert panels to continuously update these transparent guidelines and provide real-time access via ACR Select. NDSC, serving as the licensing agent for the ACR AC, will provide EHR vendors with a direct method to integrate Appropriateness Criteria into EHR technology platforms, which can improve quality, reduce unnecessary scans, and lower imaging costs.