RANZCR and RACGP Launch iRefer Pilot in Australia

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have proudly announced a collaboration on Australia’s first GP pilot of iRefer imaging guidelines as a potential clinical information resource.

The pilot aims to demonstrate the benefits that imaging guidelines can bring to the Australian healthcare system as an evidence-based resource and assist GPs in choosing the right test at the right time for best patient care. A parallel project on what is good clinical decision support (CDS) will consider how to best integrate access to imaging and other guidelines as part of a GP’s normal workflow.

Clin A/Prof Sanjay Jeganathan, RANZCR President, said: “I welcome the close collaboration with our colleagues at RACGP on this important project. Clinical radiologists have long known the importance of supporting our GP referrers to request most appropriate imaging investigations so that patients ultimately benefit from the best possible care”.

RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price said: “I am pleased to work with RANZCR on this important project which aligns with the College’s position on CDS in Australia. The input of Australia’s GPs is critical to the success of this project and I urge GPs to get involved.”

The Medical Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce Final Report (2020) recommended the development and expansion of CDS tools to aid both general practitioners and specialists in delivering the most appropriate high value care for patients.

The associated report by the Taskforce’s Diagnostic Medicine Clinical Committee (DMCC) found that electronic CDS was regarded as a superior intervention to improve requesting of diagnostic imaging.

RANZCR has partnered with RACGP to deliver the pilot. GPs’ participation will be used to evaluate and inform further consideration of iRefer as a radiology CDS. RACGP and RANZCR have worked closely to ensure data collection will fit comfortably into GP workflows.

The Royal College of Radiologists (UK) is the publisher of iRefer Guidelines and RANZCR has exclusive license of iRefer in Australia and New Zealand. iRefer Guidelines are based on best clinical evidence and are validated by clinical experts and subject to rigorous governance.

RANZCR has been engaged by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to undertake the pilot of iRefer and the proof of concept as an integrated CDS in general medical practice.