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Sentara Health Radiology division recognized for AI quality assurance
Identified by the American College of Radiology
The radiology program of Virginia-based Sentara Health has been identified by the American College of Radiology as a Recognized Center for Healthcare AI. ARCH-AI is the first international quality assurance program for artificial intelligence used in radiology facilities.
The program, launched in 2024, recognizes AI best practices and outlines consensus-based building blocks for infrastructure, processes and governance in AI implementation. For its part, Sentara Health adopted eight AI Principles in 2024 to ensure safe, well-managed, patient-focused deployment of AI tools across the system.
“Radiology is evolving rapidly and these AI platforms allow us to improve workflow efficiency and image quality without compromising the standards of care our patients rely on,” said Alfredo Lopez, Director of Radiology for Sentara hospitals. “Our approach prioritizes safe, transparent, and patient-centered deployment of AI tools at every stage of implementation.”
Sentara Radiology operates 52 CT scanners and 34 MRIs across its system of 12 hospitals and dozens of ambulatory sites in Virginia and North Carolina. These devices produced more than 210,000 CT scans and more than 100,000 MRI studies in 2025. Artificial intelligence is being used to help radiologists make faster, more accurate, potentially life-saving diagnoses.
“The AI tools that Sentara Radiology employs are helping us reach the next horizon of health care,” said Robert Post, MD, a musculoskeletal radiologist with Medical Center Radiologists and Medical Director for Radiology at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk. “These AI tools help improve access by making scanning more efficient. They help us decrease the time between diagnosis and care and reduce the risk of error. These efforts are lessening the burden of disease for our consumers,” Post said.
Criteria for becoming an ARCH-AI site include:
· Establishing an interdisciplinary AI governance group.
· Maintaining an inventory of AI algorithms with detailed documentation.
· Ensuring adherence to security and compliance measures.
· Diligent review and selection of AI algorithms.
· Documenting use cases and training procedures.
· Monitoring algorithm performance, including safety and effectiveness.
· Participating in the Assess-AI national AI registry for performance benchmarking.
"The new radiology AI tools Sentara has deployed are best-in-class, and I have found them very useful,” said Frank Mihlon, MD, a neuroradiologist with Hampton Roads Radiology Associates who works at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. “These tools can detect a certain subset of radiology diagnoses, such as intracranial hemorrhage and rib fractures, and those cases are flagged to be read immediately, which expedites patient care. I am glad we have been able to add these tools, and I look forward to integrating additional AI technology into our daily practice."
The program, launched in 2024, recognizes AI best practices and outlines consensus-based building blocks for infrastructure, processes and governance in AI implementation. For its part, Sentara Health adopted eight AI Principles in 2024 to ensure safe, well-managed, patient-focused deployment of AI tools across the system.
“Radiology is evolving rapidly and these AI platforms allow us to improve workflow efficiency and image quality without compromising the standards of care our patients rely on,” said Alfredo Lopez, Director of Radiology for Sentara hospitals. “Our approach prioritizes safe, transparent, and patient-centered deployment of AI tools at every stage of implementation.”
Sentara Radiology operates 52 CT scanners and 34 MRIs across its system of 12 hospitals and dozens of ambulatory sites in Virginia and North Carolina. These devices produced more than 210,000 CT scans and more than 100,000 MRI studies in 2025. Artificial intelligence is being used to help radiologists make faster, more accurate, potentially life-saving diagnoses.
“The AI tools that Sentara Radiology employs are helping us reach the next horizon of health care,” said Robert Post, MD, a musculoskeletal radiologist with Medical Center Radiologists and Medical Director for Radiology at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk. “These AI tools help improve access by making scanning more efficient. They help us decrease the time between diagnosis and care and reduce the risk of error. These efforts are lessening the burden of disease for our consumers,” Post said.
Criteria for becoming an ARCH-AI site include:
· Establishing an interdisciplinary AI governance group.
· Maintaining an inventory of AI algorithms with detailed documentation.
· Ensuring adherence to security and compliance measures.
· Diligent review and selection of AI algorithms.
· Documenting use cases and training procedures.
· Monitoring algorithm performance, including safety and effectiveness.
· Participating in the Assess-AI national AI registry for performance benchmarking.
"The new radiology AI tools Sentara has deployed are best-in-class, and I have found them very useful,” said Frank Mihlon, MD, a neuroradiologist with Hampton Roads Radiology Associates who works at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. “These tools can detect a certain subset of radiology diagnoses, such as intracranial hemorrhage and rib fractures, and those cases are flagged to be read immediately, which expedites patient care. I am glad we have been able to add these tools, and I look forward to integrating additional AI technology into our daily practice."
By: Dale Gauding