Analysis of retakes: understanding, managing, and using an analysis of retakes program for Quality Assurance

The benefits to be obtained from an analysis of retakes program include: identificaton of problems which are know to be affecting image quality and patient dose by creating additional retakes; documentation of monetary savings from QA programs by achieving fewer retakes; and potential improvement in departmental performance by using retake data feedback to increase motivation. In addition to outlining the meaning of retakes and suggested procedures for beginning and maintaining an on-going retake analysis program, the cost of retakes is discussed in both dollar and radiation exposure contexts, balanced against this cost savings is the expense of implementing a quality assurance program in a diagnostic radiology facility. This expense varies widely depending on the level and management of the QA program. The additional cost of performing the analysis of retakes study is minimal. For a facility with five rooms of radiographic equipment, the retake tabulation and analysis should require one to two hours per week to perform. The program would require $312 to $625 per year and even less with experience and streamlining. The benefits would appear to definitely outweigh the costs