Sharing your story, including your project progress, experience, and outcomes, can inspire others and advance your career. You will join the national conversation, potentially attend national conferences, and receive professional recognition. We recognize that it can be intimidating, but you already have all the project information you need.
| Challenges | Consider | Remember |
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Your A3 contains your story and the required abstract elements. Use the following guidance to confidently translate your project A3 into a conference abstract to share your project's success.
A3 to Abstract Phases
Prepare the Story
During this phase, you gain an understanding of the intended conference audience and the format they prefer to receive information. You will need to review your options and make selections that best fit your story.
Conference
Each conference has a unique theme and audience, so it's important to select a conference where attendees are receptive to your story. Some other key factors to consider include: deadline, fit, prestige/competitiveness, and weather.
Story Format
Quality Improvement Report: This format fits most ACR ImPower projects. The QI report format is designed for quality assessment and improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient care.
Scientific Presentation: This format is hypothesis-driven, and typically involves the use of some statistical methods to analyze results.
Education Exhibit: This format is designed to teach or review topics related to medical imaging.
Submission Category
Each conference has different categories or groupings for abstract submissions. Some factors to consider when selecting a category include: fit, novelty, competitiveness, reviewers, and audience.
Abstract Format
It's important to review the conference's abstract format, guidelines, and limitations. Each conference has a preferred format for abstracts. They all incorporate similar elements, but may vary by section names and content order.
Example Abstract Formats
*taken from 2025 conference submission sites*
| RSNA | ACR QSI | |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract Structure | Introduction Methods Results Discussion | Problem statement SMART aim Interventions Results/outcomes Conclusion |
| Figures | At least 1 figure | Can include figure |
| Limit | 500 words | 2 pages |
Write the Story
During this phase, authors translate their story into the selected conference's abstract format. This is an iterative process requiring a team effort and clear plan.
Develop an Abstract Template
A template provides a roadmap for the authors and should be tailored towards the desired conference abstract requirements.
| Template Contents | Example Templates |
|---|---|
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Engage Authors
Just like your project, writing the abstract requires a team and structured process. To engage the authors we suggest following these steps:
Draft the Abstract
Your project A3 can be used to outline the narrative of your abstract. The general approach is to 1.) Clearly define the problem and established performance baseline, 2.) Communicate aims, 3.) Describe interventions, and 4.) Evaluate the impact of intervention(s).
Key elements that can be pulled from the A3 include:
- QI tools used: Ex: Process Map, Fishbone, Pareto, Control Chart, PDSA, etc.
- Root causes and key drivers
- Most impactful interventions
- Impact on the performance measure and other measures, as applicable
Final Abstract Review
Before submitting the abstract, ensure all authors have reviewed and approved the final abstract.
Submit the Story
Verify Upload Format
Each conference may have a different format to upload the abstract, such as a PDF or entering information into an online form.
Don't Wait Until the Deadline to Submit
You've done all the hard work, you don't want to miss out on the deadline due to a computer issue.
Acceptance Next Steps
Abstracts can be approved for different presentation formats such as a hardcopy poster, digital poster, or moderated poster (the highest honor). Review the format requirements for which you have been accepted before creating the final conference materials.
Good Luck and Remember, We Are Here to Help
The ACR Learning Network is here to help you outline your story and review your abstract prior to submission.
References
David B. Larson, James R. Duncan, Paul G. Nagy, and Jonathan B. Kruskal. Guide to Effective Quality Improvement Reporting in Radiology. Radiology 2014 271:2, 561-573.
Kandice Garcia Tomkins, Erin Panter, and Ryan Ward. Submitting High Quality, Quality Abstracts. ACR Learning Network Quarterly Meeting. April 2025.