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KCARE Report for CRAG's Meeting
September 2007
KCARE is an independent evaluation
centre which has provided the NHS with advice and training on the
selection, purchasing, acceptance testing and QC of radiological equipment
since 1979. KCARE is based at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust London. The KCARE website (www.kcare.co.uk ) provides information
on the performance of diagnostic imaging equipment as well as KCARE
reports, details of courses, additional service and links to other
useful sites.
SafeSpecs
SafeSpecs is a web application designed by KCARE to assist in the
process of preparing a technical specification for diagnostic X-ray
equipment (excluding CT), which can then be sent to X-ray equipment
manufacturers. It will also aid in the interpretation of the data
supplied and provide general background information on X-ray equipment
technology. Access to SafeSpecs is via the KCARE website and is password
protected. Contact KCARE for a free password.
CRAG
KCARE have been involved with CRAG since the very beginning and have
always had a member on the CRAG committee. This close link was found
to be very beneficial during the NOF Cardiac Purchasing Initiative,
in the production of the Comparative Evaluation reports which were
made available to the all departments involved. This strong relationship
will continued to benefit the cardiac community, CRAG and KCARE.
Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing
KCARE’S portal to DH publications is the NHS PASA Centre for
Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP). The remit of CEP is to underpin procurement
decisions and support the uptake of useful, safe, innovative products
and related procedures in health and social care. On 1st September
2005 the Device Evaluation Service (DES), including KCARE’s
services, were transferred from the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA).
NHS PASA is the government agency responsible for ensuring the NHS
makes the most effective use of its resources by getting value for
money and maximising patient benefit when purchasing goods and services.
Project Proposal
CEP are continuing to re-designed their products to ensure they meet
the requirements and needs of purchasers throughout health and social
care. As part of these changes a system by which any interested party
(NHS purchaser, patients or manufactures) can put forward a technology
or related procedure for inclusion in the Evaluation programme has
been set up. If you would like to propose a project for inclusion
in the Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP) work programme please
visit:
Propose
a project
CEP Outputs
There are now four main outputs
which CEP can commission its suppliers to deliver;
1. Evidence reviews – provide a synopsis of existing evidence.
2. Buyer’s guides – designed to help those making purchases
and may include any of the following elements: technology overview,
market information, decision trees, comparative specifications, whole
life costing, cost/benefit analysis, adoption guidance, sustainable
procurement, reliability analysis.
3. Evaluation protocols – nationally accepted methodologies
and toolkits for product evaluation.
4. Evaluations - provide a more detailed assessment of a single, innovative,
product.
KCARE’s current work
Evaluation of GE Definium
8000 Dual Energy Subtraction
‘Hats off’ Emergency Helmet Removal System
Radiography/Fluoroscopy Buyer's Guide
Evidence Review of Pain-Free Artificial Lower Limb Patient Interfaces
Evaluation of GE Definium 8000 Tomosynthesis
Evaluation of the Adani DR System
Digital Mammography Buyer's Guide
Recent KCARE reports
Cost Effectiveness of direct
digital radiography versus computer radiography
for Chest Examinations - CEP 07011
Computed Radiography (CR) Systems for Mammography. A Comparative Technical
Report Edition 2 - Report 06047
Cardiovascular Imaging systems. A Comparative Report Edition 5 - Report
06044
KCARE reports are available on the NHS PASA website (www.pasa.nhs.uk/cep
) or by contacting KCARE (www.kcare.co.uk
).
For previous KCARE reports
click here
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