FAQs
BSIR Exemplar Sites: Frequently asked questions
What are BSIR Exemplar sites?
BSIR Exemplar sites are departments that have demonstrated a commitment to the development of high quality Interventional Radiology Services, have enrolled in the BSIR exemplar programme and fulfilled the current criteria for award of exemplar status.
What are BSIR Exemplar Pilot sites?
BSIR Pilot Sites are departments that have demonstrated a commitment to the development of high quality Interventional Radiology Services, have enrolled in the BSIR programme, but have not fulfilled all current criteria for the award of exemplar status. Feedback is given to these departments for consideration by interventional radiology teams and hospital managers.
What are the requirements to enrol as a BSIR exemplar or pilot site?
The most important requirement is a motivated clinical lead, this may be an Interventional Radiologist, but could be another member of the Interventional team. Development of a high quality site requires committed clinical leadership and commitment from the Interventional team. We accept that many sites may not be able to achieve all the standards immediately and will be working towards them. Much of the content of this section of the website is intended to promote sharing of information to help departments develop.
What are the core department requirements of an exemplar site?
Each exemplar site should aim to:
- Define scope of services - what services does the department provide and during what time periods? Clearly understanding the true availability of services will help us improve services and access.
- Regular team and morbidity and mortality meetings: multidisciplinary working is essential in providing good quality care and taking the opportunity to reflect on practice; a vital part of improving clinical care.
- Promote data submission to registries: submitting data to registries informs national practice and informs each of us of our standards of practice. Each exemplar centre is committed to improving data submission and will be encouraged to run audits.
- Share service developments: few centres have completely succeeded (or failed) at delivering high quality IR services. Inevitably, there are lessons we can all learn from each other and exemplar centres will agree to share their experience at developing quality IR services.
- Patient focus & safety: each exemplar site should be committed to providing high quality patient information and getting feedback from patients about their services.
- Core criteria are allied to the Provision of Interventional Radiology Services document available via BSIR or RCR website.
Please refer to the Application Process and Exemplar Criteria page for more information
What about sites that can’t yet reach exemplar status? - becoming a pilot site
The focus is on quality improvement and we are very keen to enrol sites that are striving to improve the quality of their Interventional Services. Sites that cannot achieve all the key criteria within the four domains can enrol as pilot sites. Pilot sites are demonstrating a commitment to improving the quality of services over a period of time. Pilot sites will have access to material within the website to help them improve their service and to a network of sites that may have already successfully negotiated similar difficulties.
What else happens?
Exemplar and pilot sites are subject to review by the BSIR Quality and Safety committee on a regular basis.
Are exemplar sites accredited as Interventional Radiology services?
No, this is a quality improvement initiative and sites are undertaking self assessment rather than external scrutiny. We maintain a list of exemplar and pilot sites and this will demonstrate sites that have shown commitment to improving Interventional Radiology services.
How do we apply to become an exemplar site?
The Self assessment questionnaire can be accessed using this link and directly from the application form section of the S&Q section of the website
The next round of assessment will take place in October/November 2021. BSIR members will be notified by mailshot and the BSIR website.
Any queries please contact Julie Ellison [email protected]