4 Effective Tips for Ensuring Safe MRI Scanner Usage

Your MRI scanner lets you conduct a painless and non-invasive diagnostic procedure that allows you to see detailed illustrations of your patients’ internal body structures. This equipment uses a large magnet, a computer, and radio waves to tell you the difference between healthy and diseased tissues. It helps you detect and treat diseases and provide better healthcare, meaning it’s a staple in most hospitals and clinics.  

The MRI system has a powerful magnetic field that can attract objects made from certain metals, moving them with great force. Therefore, removing all metallic belongings, such as jewelry, watches, and phones, is required before getting an MRI exam. Failing to do this can risk these metallic objects to move around various MRI parts, causing severe harm to patients. 

As a healthcare professional, implementing an MRI safety program that informs and educates all staff members at your facility is essential. This way, you minimize accidents and life-threatening injuries to your technicians and patients. Here are some practical tips for ensuring safe MRI scanner usage:

1. Thoroughly screen everyone for metal objects and metal implants

As mentioned above, your MRI scanner has a magnetic field. Because of this, the most common hazard associated with your equipment is the magnetic forces combined with flying objects. Anyone near the magnet can be harmed, and your facility can suffer from costly consequences when ferromagnetic materials damage the magnet itself. 

You can easily prevent magnetic field disasters by thoroughly screening patients and staff members for metal objects and metal implants before entering the scan room.

2. Establish safety programs, training, policies, and procedures

You and other staff members may be familiar with MRI safety policies and procedures, but mistakes can always be made, even by the most experienced professionals. Minimize confusion and the risk of making these costly and dangerous mistakes by documenting MRI safety procedures and policies around your facility and implementing safety training sessions and programs. This way, you can standardize MRI safety practices.

3. Maintain your facility’s cleanliness

Cleanliness is crucial in your imaging facility. Avoid infections and keep your patients and staff safe and healthy by cleaning and disinfecting your bore, coil, pads, and the room of your MRI.; implementing a policy for infection control is also advisable. The procedure may require you to regularly wash and sanitize your hands, clean any items that come in contact with your patients, inspect and replace pads when needed, and use extra caution for patients with an infection or open wound.

4. Assign a safety program leader

Your learning should be continuous to help you keep up with the latest health trends. Designate a leader to inform and educate all employees on MRI safety precautions, especially around the sensitive magnet. Besides healthcare professionals, your MRI safety program leader should also train all personnel who may have access to the magnet room, including your security officers and housekeeping staff. 

Conclusion 

Your MRI scanner helps identify your patients’ health conditions and determine the most appropriate treatment for them. However, using it requires the necessary knowledge and skills about safety for successful usage. 

Therefore, follow the tips listed in this guide and pay special attention to MRI coil repair and maintenance to minimize the risk of injuries and accidents. 

Whether you need MRI parts or repair, you can count on us at Direct Med Parts and Services. We are your go-to source for medical imaging parts and services, and we specialize in MRI and CT parts and coils. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your facility!