All Nicklaus Children's Outpatient Centers have been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence® (DICOE) by the American College of Radiology® (ACR®). With more than 11 outpatient care centers and more than a 15 specialty locations across Miami Dade, Palm Beach and Broward Counties, Nicklaus Children's centers offer a number of state-of-the-art technologies designed to limit radiation exposure in children in need of imaging, minimizing sedation time and offering the highest imaging quality for precise diagnoses.
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. 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.
“Providing the very best care to the children and families we serve is always our number one priority,” says Iris Berges, vice president of operations and chief ambulatory services officer of Nicklaus Children's Hospital. “After initially being recognized by the American College of Radiology® for our imaging practices at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in 2023, being recognized now as a center of excellence for our outpatient centers as well is a true testament to the attention to detail and elevated level of care we offer our patients.”
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. Another requirement is to participate in two ACR National Radiology Data Registries (NRDR®), as well as Image Wisely® and Image Gently®.
Nicklaus Children's offers a number of cutting-edge diagnostic imaging services in locations throughout south Florida to ensure children do not need to leave the region for quality imaging and diagnostic care. The EOS Imaging System, offered in Palm Beach Gardens and Miramar, creates a full-body high quality 3D image of patients in a natural, standing position while using radiation levels up to nine times less than a computed radiography x-ray, and 20 times less than a CT scan. By having patients stand during the process, the EOS images offer physicians more accurate insight into a patient's spinal alignment and posture.
Additionally, this past July, Nicklaus Children's West Kendall Outpatient Center was the first in the nation to offer the mobile version of the Philips 1.5T Ambition X magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Among its features, the cutting-edge system delivers high-quality images with more efficiency, enabling faster setup and exam time, allowing for potential reduction in the amount of time a child is sedated. The system also has interactive experience tools to help put children at ease during an MRI procedure. The immersive technology combined with lighting, visual themes and playful characters, as well as child-friendly music provide positive distraction during procedures.
For a full list of Nicklaus Children's locations and the services within each, visit nicklauschildrens.org/locations.
About the American College of Radiology
The American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a 42,000-member medical association that advances patient care, medical practice and collaborative results through advocacy, quality standards, research and education. www.acr.org.