Medical 3-D Printing Within a Health Care Facility.

PURPOSE: Within the widespread use of medical 3-D printing at health care facilities (HCFs), the scope and complexity of patient-specific anatomic models and anatomic (surgical) guides are expanding. The authors formed a multidisciplinary panel to seek consensus regarding best practices for 3-D printing at a HCF.

METHODS

At the request of the ACR, a 14-member panel was formed with members nominated by 10 professional societies. This multidisciplinary team represented those involved in health care 3-D printing. The panel made statements and recommendations in five areas: (1) general statements, (2) practice recommendations, (3) quality and safety recommendations, (4) government relations recommendations, and (5) economics recommendations. Discussions and three rounds of meetings were conducted to reach consensus.

RESULTS

The panel members reached unanimous or near unanimous consensus on 25 statements and recommendations. The recommendations focused on consistent, safe, and sustainable 3-D-printed parts derived from medical images.

CONCLUSIONS

This multidisciplinary collaboration represents consensus results on best practices regarding medical 3-D printing. These recommendations frame the typical workflow and provide a contemporary reference regarding common elements to the clinical procedure of 3-D printing at HCFs.