AKRON, Ohio, March 2, 2015 -- Akron Children's Hospital has been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence™ (DICOE) by the American College of Radiology (ACR), making it the first hospital in Ohio and the second children's hospital in the United States to earn the designation. 

"Earning recognition from the ACR as a DICOE provides validation that our radiology departments perform at the highest level compared with national benchmarks," says Dr. Michael Rubin, chairman, department of radiology at Akron Children's Hospital. "To earn it, the radiology department has exceeded the standard requirements from the ACR, demonstrating our commitment to quality, safety, and patient care.

The designation applies to Akron Children's hospitals located in Akron and Boardman. The DICOE program, which represents the pinnacle of medical imaging care, is an achievement that goes beyond accreditation to recognize best-quality imaging practices and diagnostic care. This includes a comprehensive assessment of the entire medical imaging enterprise, including structure and outcomes. According to the ACR, the DICOE designation recognizes excellence at multiple levels, including the professional staff, the technology and the policies and procedures the organization follows, and superior patient care.

In order to receive this elite distinction, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in all modalities they provide, and in which the ACR offers an accreditation program. Other requirements include participation in the Dose Index Registry® and General Radiology Improvement Database, as well as Image Wisely® and Image Gently®.

The ACR, founded in 1924, is one of the largest and most influential medical associations in the United States. The ACR devotes its resources to making imaging and radiation therapy safe, effective and accessible to those who need it. Its 36,000 members include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.

Akron Children's Hospital is dedicated to improving the health of children through high quality patient care, education, advocacy, community service and research. We are one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the U.S. and are proud to be ranked among the best children's hospitals in the nation.

More than 700 providers strong, our dedicated staff handles nearly 800,000 patient visits annually at our 2 hospital campuses and through our network of primary and specialty care locations. Our home care and school health providers bring medical care to children in their homes and schools. We also collaborate with other health systems to provide neonatal and pediatric care in their facilities.

As a teaching affiliate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, we are training a new generation of physicians, and our research institute is advancing pediatric medicine and improving patient care.

Learn more at akronchildrens.org.