March 2008, Volume 4, Issue 3 - Preventing Accidents and Injuries in the MRI Suite

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Dear Colleagues,

We want to thank all of you who participated in the field review of the Centre’s newest Patient Safety Solutions (read more here). We have extended the deadline for responses to March 14, so there is still time to send us your comments. Click here to start the review. Look for the new Solutions to be approved and released in the late summer or early fall of 2008. As always, we appreciate your time and your input.

Some of you may be aware that The Joint Commission recently issued its 38^th Sentinel Event Alert, “Preventing Accidents and Injuries in the MRI Suite” (read the entire Alert here; for more information on the Sentinel Event Alerts in general, click here). MRIs’ popularity, although a sign of the technology’s health- and life-saving capability, should not blind caregivers and patients to the inherent dangers—from radiation to acoustical injuries caused by an MRI scanner’s “knocking” sound.

With that in mind, our first article, “Working Together to Improve MRI Safety: Involving Staff from Clinical, Operational, and Facility Disciplines,” provides a series of tips and solutions for organizations seeking multidisciplinary MRI safety buy-in. “Evaluating MRI Safety for Specific Populations: Preparing for Pediatric, Geriatric, and Acute Patients” offers recommendations for MRI safety protocols for the unique needs of younger, older, and more acute patient populations.

Do you or your organization have a positive experience to relate on Preventing accidents and injuries in the MRI suite? Let us know about your success! Send an email by selecting this link: http://www.jcipatientsafety.org/24725/.


Peter B. Angood, M.D., FRCS(C), FACS, FCCM Vice President & Chief Patient Safety Officer, The Joint Commission Co-Director, Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety	Laura Botwinick Vice President, Joint Commission Resources Co-Director, Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety