ABOUT THE IAC
Principal Staff
Board of Directors
Sponsoring Organizations
Policies & Procedures

THE IAC DIVISIONS

ACCREDITATION
About the Process
Why Accreditation Counts
The Agreement
Accreditation Fees
Accreditation in the News

IAC NEWSLETTER

EXHIBIT SCHEDULE

WEB EVENTS

CONTACT THE IAC

home

IAC Newsletter

MR incidents are preventable with the implementation of a comprehensive safety program that is comprised of qualified staff trained in the environmental hazards associated with their unique MR environment, controlling access to the MR room and a diligent screening policy for patients, personnel and visitors for contraindications to the MR procedure.

ICAMRL accredited laboratories are required to have a comprehensive quality assurance program in place that is inclusive of safety measures for both patients and personnel. Written policies and procedures must be enforced and reviewed annually by the Clinical MR Director and Quality Assurance Committee. The ICAMRL requirements are outlined in Part I, Sections 5 and 6 of The Standards.

The environmental policies and procedures must include the following:

• Diligent screening of patients and personnel for contraindications associated with the MR environment (pacemakers; implants; electrical devices; surgical clips; shrapnel, etc.)
  
• Education, training and screening of all MR laboratory staff members and personnel that may be required to enter the MR environment (housekeeping, general maintenance, etc.)
  
• An emergency policy (i.e.: MR safe and MR compatible) for equipment, supplies and licensed and/or qualified and trained personnel (i.e.: BLS or ACLS certified) must be available to manage medical emergencies and handle critically ill or high-risk patients
  
• Controlled access to the magnet room (nonimaging personnel must be escorted such as housekeeping, general maintenance services, etc.)
  
• The use of non-ferromagnetic equipment that is clearly marked and located near the magnet room, such as oxygen tanks, IV poles, wheelchairs, etc. (any ferromagnetic equipment should NOT be stored near the magnet room)
  
• Documentation of all incidents in the magnet room
  
• Specific absorption rate (SAR) and peripheral nerve stimulation considerations (high field only)
  
• Continuous visual and audible monitoring, and physiologic monitoring (if applicable) of the patient during the exam
  
• Ear protective devices
  
• FDA approved equipment and components (gradients, coils, etc.)

In addition to the inherent environmental risk factors associated with the MR unit, there are other safety concerns that must be addressed. Accredited ICAMRL laboratories are required to have comprehensive patient identification, infection control and contrast administration/medication policies as part of their safety programs.

Patient Identification

For all clinical procedures there must be a process that assures accurate patient identification prior to initiating the procedure. This should be done using at least two pieces of information provided by the patient/caregiver and compared with existing documents. There must be multi levels of patient identification throughout the patient's visit, prior to the performance of the examination or administration of medications.

Infection Control

The importance of implementing a comprehensive infection control program as part of the safety policy in the MR facility cannot be overemphasized. Reports of patients suffering from hospital infections are on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1.7 million people annually contract a hospital-acquired infection. In fact, in 2005 there were almost 19,000 deaths as a result of these acquired infections, more than the death rate from patients that suffer with AIDS. Specific to the MR environment, there are two well-documented deaths reported where patients contracted a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection after undergoing an MR examination. 3

ICAMRL accredited laboratories must have policies and procedures in place to control the spread of infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens to patients and personnel. The policy must include equipment cleaning, hand washing, use of protective equipment such as gloves and gowns, safe handling and disposal of body fluids, safe storage of materials that have come into contact with body fluids, needle disposal (if applicable) and maintenance of a hygienic environment (cleaning of floors, counter tops, wheelchairs, etc.). Laboratories seeking accreditation are advised to use reliable guidance when formulating their infection control policies. Two such references are summarized in the preceding paragraphs:

This year, the CDC published a document entitled, "Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008". This publication presents evidence-based recommendations on the preferred methods for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patient care medical devices and the healthcare environment.

Specific to the MR environment is Dr. Peter Rothschild's article, "Preventing Infection in MRI: Best Practices for Infection Control In and Around MRI Suites"12, as published on the AuntMinnie website in July 2008. This piece emphasizes the need for diligence in cleaning the MRI scanner, equipment and pads used in MR examinations. Highlighted in the article are Dr. Rothschild's recommendations for free-standing imaging centers and hospital radiology departments to reduce these types of infections from occurring in "The 11 Steps for Preventing Superbug Infections in MRI."

<<BACK | 1 | 2 | 3 | NEXT>>