On May 20, 2026, the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging (CBR) actively participated in the 4th Accreditation and Quality in Diagnostic Medicine Congress, during the Hospitalar 2026 Fair, addressing radiology's vision on the future of diagnostic medicine. The event presented three perspectives: a partnership between clinical pathology, radiology, and pathology, and raised current issues regarding the urgency of sustainability, risk management, and the importance of accreditation standards for process improvement and patient safety.
Dr. Adriano Tachibana, radiologist and coordinator of the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Program (PADI) at CBR, opened the congress, in partnership with Dr. Carlos Eduardo dos Santos Ferreira, director of accreditation and quality at the Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (SBPC/ML). Both were also present in the discussions that followed the lectures.
Socio-environmental Sustainability in Accreditation
Administrator and ESG specialist Rodrigo Henriques brought necessary points about socio-environmental sustainability to the debate, along with alarming data such as the fact that the healthcare sector is responsible for up to 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Henriques' lecture was themed "Socio-environmental Sustainability in Diagnostic Medicine Accreditation: from governance to value-based healthcare practice." The speaker cited several points of attention for physicians and radiology professionals regarding the impact of imaging exams on the environment, such as the use of reagents, contrast agents, and chemical substances with potential environmental impact, and the significant generation of infectious waste, chemicals, and disposable materials.
“Making the land sick is also making people sick,” Rodrigo pointed out, reinforcing that governance in diagnostic medicine must be sustainable. In the expert's view, in a new movement, accreditation is incorporating: ESG, with environmental, social, and governance practices into the institutional strategy; climate, environmental impact, social responsibility, and sustainable governance.
Risk Management in Radiology Services
Risk Management in Radiology Services: identification, analysis, and response in critical processes was the focus of the presentation by Dr. Cristina Khawali, endocrinologist and CADI member of the CBR. The speaker argues that healthcare services can utilize various quality management models, all with the same goal of continuous improvement in patient safety.
Risk management is directly related to a just culture, argues Cristina. She believes the establishment needs to shift its risk perspective from reactive to proactive, involving the healthcare team. "Quality generates long-term cost reductions by avoiding waste, errors, and healthcare failures," emphasizes Dr. Cristina.
Good Quality Practices in High-Complexity Radiology
To conclude the participation of the radiology and diagnostic imaging sector, Karine Minaif, biomedical scientist and coordinator of diagnostic imaging at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, gave a case study presentation on the topic "Good Quality Practices in High-Complexity Radiology: practical lessons from a reference service".
Karine's presentation began by provoking the audience at the congress with the question, "What is quality?" Her argument was that quality starts with vision, planning, and strategy, leading to the success of having an accredited service. "PADI has a strength comparable to any international accreditation," stated Karine, referring to the CBR's diagnostic imaging accreditation program.
At the end of the 4th Accreditation and Quality in Diagnostic Medicine Congress, one message became clear to the audience that participated in the discussions: the objective of all accreditation and quality standards is to ensure the value of the patient, guaranteeing their well-being and safety. Far beyond an administrative process, accreditation aims to make diagnostic medicine safe and humane.