Patient Safety

The main aspect of patient safety in any MRI facility is magnetic safety.It is essensial that all patient, relatives, and other medical or non-medical! personnel are prevented from entering the magnetic field until they have been properly screened.Phisical barriers, such as doors and large warning sign, are common ways of achieving this.Clerical personnel ( who are ussually situated at the entrence to the unit) should be aware of who is present in the facility an wheter they have been checked for magnetic safety.Thorough screening of each patient and anyone who is to enter the field is extremely important.Failure to do so may result in injury or even death.All centres should have a proper screening pilicy which includes checking for :

• Pacemaker
• Aneurysma clips
• Intra-ocular foreign bodies
• Metal device or prosthesis
• Cochlear implan
• Possibility of early pregnancy
• Removal of all jewellery, credit cards,watches,etc

Most facilities provide a screening from which patients,relatives and athoer persons fill in before entering the magnetic field.This ensure that important question have been addressed,and provides a record that screening has taken place.This maybe very important if an accident subsequently occur.