MR Safety and Patient Care

Negligence

When a tech fails to meet the standard of care and a pt gets hurt

Malpractice

Negligence but specifically in a healthcare or professional setting

Standard of Care

The baseline of what a reasonable tech would do in the same situation

Respondeat Superior

The hospital takes the blame for what their employees do wrong

Ostensible Agency

When a non-employee makes a pt think they work there and the facility can still be held liable

Res Ipsa Loquitur

The injury is so obviously caused by negligence it speaks for itself

Written Informed Consent

Pt signs off after being told the risks benefits and what the procedure involves

Oral Basic Consent

Tell the pt what youre doing and ask if its okay no signature needed

Implied Consent

Used when a pt is unconscious and cant consent so we assume theyd want treatment

HIPAA

1996 law that protects pt health info reduces fraud and ensures insurance portability

Zone 1

Anyone can walk in like the lobby and hallways

Zone 2

Where pts get prepped and screened before going further into the MRI area

Zone 3

The control room that is locked only screened people allowed others need an escort

Zone 4

The actual magnet room only MRI staff and fully screened pts allowed

Gauss Line

General public has to stay outside the 9 gauss line around the magnet

MR Medical Director

Physician who runs the whole MRI safety program and sets training requirements

MR Safety Officer

Specialized tech who keeps safety policies running with the MRMD

Level 1 Personnel

Had basic MRI safety training okay to work in Zone 3

Level 2 Personnel

More advanced training knows about burn risks and nerve stimulation from MRI fields

Non-MRI Personnel

Anyone who hasnt had formal MRI safety training in the last 12 months

ABMRS

The board that certifies MRSOs and MRMDs

MR Screening

Has to be done on everybody every single time they enter using written and verbal methods

Metallic Foreign Body

Ask how long its been there scar tissue locks it in place after about 6 to 8 weeks

Implant Documentation

Need the device name year make model and manufacturer safety info before scanning

MR Safe

Totally safe in any MRI environment no metal not magnetic doesnt conduct electricity

MR Conditional

Safe but only under specific tested and documented conditions

MR Unsafe

Known hazard like ferromagnetic objects that can become projectiles

Quench

Liquid helium boils off and pushes out the oxygen get the pt out immediately

Emergency Shutdown

Cuts power to the scanner room but magnet is still on and field stays

Code Blue

Never run in Zone 4 get the pt out first then start CPR

Magneto-Hydrodynamic Effect

T-wave on ECG goes up because blood flows through the static field gets worse with stronger magnets

SAR

How fast RF energy heats up pt tissue in W/kg FDA limits 4.0 whole body and 3.2 head

Magneto-Phosphenes

Light flashes or stars in your vision caused by gradient field stimulating the retina

Eddy Currents

Swirling currents from the magnetic field that can heat tissue or stimulate nerves

Nosocomial Infection

Infection you picked up while already in the hospital getting care