Since its inception, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has largely been used for qualitative diagnosis. Radiologists and physicians are increasingly becoming interested in quantitative assessments. The American College of Radiology (ACR) developed an accreditation program that incorporates tests pertaining to quantitative and qualitative analyses. As a result, sites often use the ACR procedure for daily quality assurance (QA) testing. The ACR accreditation program uses information obtained from clinical and phantom images to assess overall image quality of a scanner. For the phantom assessment, a human observer performs manual tests on T1 and T2-weighted volumes of the provided phantom. As these tests are tedious and time consuming, the primary goal of this research was to fully automate the procedure for QA purposes. The performance of the automated procedure was assessed by comparing the test results with the decisions made by human observers. The test results of the automated ACR QA procedure were well correlated with that of human observers. The automated ACR QA procedure takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Upon program completion, the test results are logged in multiple text files. To this date, no QA procedure has been reported for Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Therefore, the secondary goal of this thesis was to develop a DTI QA procedure that assess two of the associated features used most in diagnosis, namely, diffusion anisotropy and the direction of primary diffusion. To this end, a physical phantom was constructed to model restricted diffusion, relative to axon size, using water-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microbore capillary tubes. Automated procedures were developed to test fractional anisotropy (FA) map contrast and capillary bundle (axon) orientation accuracy. / Master of Science

This research is an attempt to determine the extent to which the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in higher education promotes social transformation. Through analysing the case study of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) RPL programme, some conclusions on this matter were drawn. This research, a qualitative study, analyses key official documents, institutional reports, learning portfolios - produced by RPL candidates wherin they narrated their autobiographical learning histories - extensively. In addition, qualitative data were incorporated into this study to assist in the construction of the context within which RPL is being offered ...

Cette thèse vise à comprendre comment et dans quelle mesure l’agrément des établissements de santé est-il efficace pour développer les capacités des acteurs, nécessaires pour améliorer la qualité des soins et des services. Au cours des dix dernières années, il y a eu une croissance rapide, à l'échelle mondiale de la mise en œuvre de programmes d'agrément en santé pour l’amélioration de la qualité. L'expérience de la dernière décennie prouve que l'agrément est une technique valable pour l'amélioration de la qualité dans beaucoup d’organismes de santé. Il est également utilisé pour soutenir les réformes en santé. Malgré cela, les outils de gestion comme l’agrément sont souvent critiqués, car elles sont adoptées avec enthousiasme négligeant fréquemment une implantation favorisant la mise en place de comportements durables et la démonstration de meilleurs résultats. Le développement des capacités (DC) est un processus délibéré, multidimensionnel, dynamique dont le but est d’améliorer la performance des individus, des équipes, de l’organisation et d’un système. Le DC constitue une des trois assises de l’implantation d’une démarche institutionnalisée de la qualité, au même niveau que la communication et la reconnaissance. Cette recherche c’est déroulée dans un organisme d’Arabie Saoudite dans le cadre de leur première démarche avec le Conseil canadien d’agrément (CCASS) des services de santé. Une étude de cas unique d’implantation de l’agrément a été menée utilisant une approche mixte. Quatre niveaux d’analyse ont été étudiés en détail (individu, équipe, organisation et système) afin de mesurer 28 effets escomptés du DC puisés dans la littérature. Des entretiens semi-structurés, des groupes de discussion, une revue de la documentation ont été réalisés. Dans le but de mesurer trois des effets escomptés, un questionnaire sur le niveau d’implantation de la qualité (NIQ) a été administré pour la première fois en Arabie Saoudite dans cinq organismes. La performance du cas a été évaluée en relation avec les autres et en fonction de son positionnement dans le cycle d’agrément. Des analyses qualitatives et quantitatives utilisant la technique de polissage par la médiane ont été exécutées. Au niveau des individus, l’agrément a motivé la participation à de nouvelles formations. L’auto-évaluation est l’étape qui encourage l’apprentissage par l’autocritique. Le sentiment de fierté est le changement affectif le plus souvent répertorié. Les équipes ont amélioré leur communication par l’implantation d’une « chaîne de commandement ». Elle a introduit des notions de respect et de clarté des rôles telles qu’exigées par les normes. Au moyen de la mesure du NIQ, nous avons constaté que la majorité des organismes saoudiens se positionnent au niveau minimal d’implantation (assurance qualité). Le plus expérimenté avec l’agrément démontre les meilleurs résultats tout près du second niveau. Enfin, plus les organismes progressent dans la démarche d’agrément, plus les écarts de perception entre les 8 domaines mesurés par le questionnaire du NIQ et entre les différentes catégories d’emploi s’amincissent. En conclusion, l’agrément a démontré de l’efficacité à développer de nouvelles capacités par l’intégration des transformations des individus et par l’impact de l’acquisition des nouvelles capacités sur le changement des pratiques, majoritairement au niveau des individus, des équipes et de l’organisation. Le processus d’agrément a également fait preuve d’importants pouvoirs de convergence au niveau de l’adoption des pratiques édictées par les normes d’agrément qui contribuent positivement à l’amélioration de la qualité. / The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether accreditation is effective for developing individual’s necessary capacities that improve quality. In the last decade, accreditation shows that is a valuable tool. Accreditation program implementation has also demonstrated a world wide increased. It is as well used to support health reform. Managerial practices of this type are often criticized. They are adopted with enthusiasm but their implementation is often neglected because there is some difficulties to demonstrate sustainable behaviour changes and better outcomes.. Capacity Building (CB) is a comprehensive process, multidimensional and dynamic that seeks to improve the performance of individuals, teams, the organization and a system. CB is one of the three foundational elements of institutionalise quality improvement practices a the same level of communication and recognition. This study happens in Saudi Arabia. The hospital had participated in his first initiative with the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). A single case study to evaluate the implementation of accreditation has been carried using a mix methodology. For unit of analysis has been studded (individual, team, organization and system) to measure 28 anticipated effects of capacity Building culled from the literature. Semi-structure interviews, focus groups and a documentation review were conducted. A questionnaire on the quality implementation scale (QIS) was administered in five organizations. The performance of the case was measured in relation to the others and based on its positioning in the cycle. Qualitative and quantitative analyses using median polish technique were conducted. At the individual level, the accreditation motivated participation in new training. Self-assessment is the stage that encourages learning through self-criticism. The feeling of pride is the emotional change that was reported the most. The teams improved their communication by establishing a chain of command, which introduced the concept of respect and of clearly defined roles as required by the standards. Through the QIS measurement, we noted that all those involved position themselves at the minimal level of implementation (Quality Assurance). The most experienced with accreditation produce the best results very close to the second level. Finally, the further organizations progress in the cycle, the more the differences in perception between the eight QI domains studied narrowed. The same phenomenon was observed among different job categories. In conclusion, accreditation has demonstrated effectiveness to develop new capacities most specifically at the individual, team and organizational level. The accreditation process has also demonstrated significant convergence power to pushes the adoption of new practices dictated by the accreditation standards. Those practices were successful to demonstrated positive quality improvement outcome.

Ecole de Santé Publique <p>Université Libre de Bruxelles <p>Academic Year 2010-2011<p><p>Al-Awa, Bahjat<p><p>Impact of Hospital Accreditation on Patients' Safety and Quality Indicators<p><p>Dissertation Summary <p><p>I.\ / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Cette thèse vise à comprendre comment et dans quelle mesure l’agrément des établissements de santé est-il efficace pour développer les capacités des acteurs, nécessaires pour améliorer la qualité des soins et des services. Au cours des dix dernières années, il y a eu une croissance rapide, à l'échelle mondiale de la mise en œuvre de programmes d'agrément en santé pour l’amélioration de la qualité. L'expérience de la dernière décennie prouve que l'agrément est une technique valable pour l'amélioration de la qualité dans beaucoup d’organismes de santé. Il est également utilisé pour soutenir les réformes en santé. Malgré cela, les outils de gestion comme l’agrément sont souvent critiqués, car elles sont adoptées avec enthousiasme négligeant fréquemment une implantation favorisant la mise en place de comportements durables et la démonstration de meilleurs résultats. Le développement des capacités (DC) est un processus délibéré, multidimensionnel, dynamique dont le but est d’améliorer la performance des individus, des équipes, de l’organisation et d’un système. Le DC constitue une des trois assises de l’implantation d’une démarche institutionnalisée de la qualité, au même niveau que la communication et la reconnaissance. Cette recherche c’est déroulée dans un organisme d’Arabie Saoudite dans le cadre de leur première démarche avec le Conseil canadien d’agrément (CCASS) des services de santé. Une étude de cas unique d’implantation de l’agrément a été menée utilisant une approche mixte. Quatre niveaux d’analyse ont été étudiés en détail (individu, équipe, organisation et système) afin de mesurer 28 effets escomptés du DC puisés dans la littérature. Des entretiens semi-structurés, des groupes de discussion, une revue de la documentation ont été réalisés. Dans le but de mesurer trois des effets escomptés, un questionnaire sur le niveau d’implantation de la qualité (NIQ) a été administré pour la première fois en Arabie Saoudite dans cinq organismes. La performance du cas a été évaluée en relation avec les autres et en fonction de son positionnement dans le cycle d’agrément. Des analyses qualitatives et quantitatives utilisant la technique de polissage par la médiane ont été exécutées. Au niveau des individus, l’agrément a motivé la participation à de nouvelles formations. L’auto-évaluation est l’étape qui encourage l’apprentissage par l’autocritique. Le sentiment de fierté est le changement affectif le plus souvent répertorié. Les équipes ont amélioré leur communication par l’implantation d’une « chaîne de commandement ». Elle a introduit des notions de respect et de clarté des rôles telles qu’exigées par les normes. Au moyen de la mesure du NIQ, nous avons constaté que la majorité des organismes saoudiens se positionnent au niveau minimal d’implantation (assurance qualité). Le plus expérimenté avec l’agrément démontre les meilleurs résultats tout près du second niveau. Enfin, plus les organismes progressent dans la démarche d’agrément, plus les écarts de perception entre les 8 domaines mesurés par le questionnaire du NIQ et entre les différentes catégories d’emploi s’amincissent. En conclusion, l’agrément a démontré de l’efficacité à développer de nouvelles capacités par l’intégration des transformations des individus et par l’impact de l’acquisition des nouvelles capacités sur le changement des pratiques, majoritairement au niveau des individus, des équipes et de l’organisation. Le processus d’agrément a également fait preuve d’importants pouvoirs de convergence au niveau de l’adoption des pratiques édictées par les normes d’agrément qui contribuent positivement à l’amélioration de la qualité. / The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether accreditation is effective for developing individual’s necessary capacities that improve quality. In the last decade, accreditation shows that is a valuable tool. Accreditation program implementation has also demonstrated a world wide increased. It is as well used to support health reform. Managerial practices of this type are often criticized. They are adopted with enthusiasm but their implementation is often neglected because there is some difficulties to demonstrate sustainable behaviour changes and better outcomes.. Capacity Building (CB) is a comprehensive process, multidimensional and dynamic that seeks to improve the performance of individuals, teams, the organization and a system. CB is one of the three foundational elements of institutionalise quality improvement practices a the same level of communication and recognition. This study happens in Saudi Arabia. The hospital had participated in his first initiative with the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). A single case study to evaluate the implementation of accreditation has been carried using a mix methodology. For unit of analysis has been studded (individual, team, organization and system) to measure 28 anticipated effects of capacity Building culled from the literature. Semi-structure interviews, focus groups and a documentation review were conducted. A questionnaire on the quality implementation scale (QIS) was administered in five organizations. The performance of the case was measured in relation to the others and based on its positioning in the cycle. Qualitative and quantitative analyses using median polish technique were conducted. At the individual level, the accreditation motivated participation in new training. Self-assessment is the stage that encourages learning through self-criticism. The feeling of pride is the emotional change that was reported the most. The teams improved their communication by establishing a chain of command, which introduced the concept of respect and of clearly defined roles as required by the standards. Through the QIS measurement, we noted that all those involved position themselves at the minimal level of implementation (Quality Assurance). The most experienced with accreditation produce the best results very close to the second level. Finally, the further organizations progress in the cycle, the more the differences in perception between the eight QI domains studied narrowed. The same phenomenon was observed among different job categories. In conclusion, accreditation has demonstrated effectiveness to develop new capacities most specifically at the individual, team and organizational level. The accreditation process has also demonstrated significant convergence power to pushes the adoption of new practices dictated by the accreditation standards. Those practices were successful to demonstrated positive quality improvement outcome.

This research is an attempt to determine the extent to which the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in higher education promotes social transformation. Through analysing the case study of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) RPL programme, some conclusions on this matter were drawn. This research, a qualitative study, analyses key official documents, institutional reports, learning portfolios - produced by RPL candidates wherin they narrated their autobiographical learning histories - extensively. In addition, qualitative data were incorporated into this study to assist in the construction of the context within which RPL is being offered ...

This thesis is dealing with analyzing risks in an accredited testing labotarory. In this thesis will be made a search of available manuals and literature issued for accredited testing laboratory. In this thesis will be conducted selected analyzes for selected processes. The aim of this thesis is to analyze and asses the risks in chosen processes of testing laboratory and make a a simple tools for the management and elimination.

Currently the entire South African industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is unregulated, yet ECOs have the important task of checking and verifying compliance to environmental regulatory and performance requirements. According to international best practice principles for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the process should be made credible through independent checks and verification (IAIA, 1999:3). According to the Environmental Impact Assessment Management Strategy Subtheme 5, quality assurance can only be attained when practitioners fulfil competence and ethical practice criteria. In this document the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (SADEA) also noted that there is currently no home for ECOs, yet this is where effective monitoring and enforcement could significantly improve environmental outcomes. The central objective of this dissertation was to investigate the need for regulation of the South African ECO industry. Data obtained from the questionnaires indicated that 100% of respondents were in agreement that there is a need for regulation of the South African ECO industry. One of the key motivational factors identified by respondents was quality assurance, which is important, as the environmental legislative regime changes constantly. Various other factors were identified other than quality assurance and were labelled “drivers”. These include establishment of minimum standards in respect of qualifications and/or experience (core competencies), establishment of a professional code of conduct and ethics that enhances accountability and professionalism, skills improvement through continual professional development (CPD), enhancement of credibility, independence of practitioners, enhancement of skills for capacity building, protection of clients against substandard work and overall lack of professionalism, and finally creation of a source of information support and interaction. It was important to determine what drives the regulation of an industry, in order to establish whether the South African ECO industry has similar drivers justifying regulation. The establishment of qualification and competency requirements was an important objective of this research, as a set of these requirements is an essential toolkit for operating ECOs and key stakeholders of the industry. Various registration and competence requirements for ECOs were identified from the literature review and responses to the questionnaires and interviews. With this research the author also intended to establish which current accreditation bodies could be considered for registration of ECOs and regulation of the South African ECO industry. The dissertation concludes by emphasising the importance of regulating the South African ECO industry, as this will ensure that compliance monitoring takes place effectively. / M Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Currently the entire South African industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is unregulated, yet ECOs have the important task of checking and verifying compliance to environmental regulatory and performance requirements. According to international best practice principles for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the process should be made credible through independent checks and verification (IAIA, 1999:3). According to the Environmental Impact Assessment Management Strategy Subtheme 5, quality assurance can only be attained when practitioners fulfil competence and ethical practice criteria. In this document the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (SADEA) also noted that there is currently no home for ECOs, yet this is where effective monitoring and enforcement could significantly improve environmental outcomes. The central objective of this dissertation was to investigate the need for regulation of the South African ECO industry. Data obtained from the questionnaires indicated that 100% of respondents were in agreement that there is a need for regulation of the South African ECO industry. One of the key motivational factors identified by respondents was quality assurance, which is important, as the environmental legislative regime changes constantly. Various other factors were identified other than quality assurance and were labelled “drivers”. These include establishment of minimum standards in respect of qualifications and/or experience (core competencies), establishment of a professional code of conduct and ethics that enhances accountability and professionalism, skills improvement through continual professional development (CPD), enhancement of credibility, independence of practitioners, enhancement of skills for capacity building, protection of clients against substandard work and overall lack of professionalism, and finally creation of a source of information support and interaction. It was important to determine what drives the regulation of an industry, in order to establish whether the South African ECO industry has similar drivers justifying regulation. The establishment of qualification and competency requirements was an important objective of this research, as a set of these requirements is an essential toolkit for operating ECOs and key stakeholders of the industry. Various registration and competence requirements for ECOs were identified from the literature review and responses to the questionnaires and interviews. With this research the author also intended to establish which current accreditation bodies could be considered for registration of ECOs and regulation of the South African ECO industry. The dissertation concludes by emphasising the importance of regulating the South African ECO industry, as this will ensure that compliance monitoring takes place effectively. / M Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of this dissertation was twofold. First, the study sought to determine if the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) Reading score predicts success on the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET). Second, the study addressed the effect on individuals of color of raising the minimum TASP Reading score entrance requirement for admission to teacher preparation programs. Data were collected from the ExCET Office of a Carnegie I metropolitan university. The defined sample consisted of 961 participants who had a TASP Reading score and had taken an Elementary Comprehensive ExCET, an Elementary Professional Development ExCET or a Secondary Professional ExCET between September 1999 and January 2001. Linear Regression, Box Test, Predictive Discriminate Analysis, and frequency distribution tables were used for analyses. This investigation examined the effects of the independent variable of TASP Reading score on the performance of participants on the dependent variable, the ExCET. Four null hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance. The TASP Reading score was a statistically significant predictor for success on the Elementary Comprehensive ExCET, Elementary Professional Development ExCET, and the Secondary Professional Development ExCET. However, the Predictive Discriminate Analysis indicated that a TASP Reading score of 220 predicted that no candidates would fail the Elementary Comprehensive ExCET, 6 participants would fail the Elementary Professional Development ExCET and 19 participants would fail the Secondary Professional Development ExCET. Five hypotheses addressed the effect of raising the TASP Reading score to 250. Findings of four hypotheses showed that raising this admission standard would impact the number of individuals of color granted admission to the teacher preparation program. These results call for the recommendation that governing agencies address the impact of state teacher education program accreditation that often results in the policy of relying on the TASP Reading score as one of the primary admission standards for teacher education programs. The unintended outcome of raising the reading admission standard in the anticipation of continued state accreditation is a noticeable loss of candidates of colors, especially African American candidates.