MRI Safety Officer

Kaweah Delta Health Care District•Visalia, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The MRI Safety Officer ensures MRI safety operations for the Kaweah Health and works to create a safe environment for all employees, patients and visitors in accordance with Joint Commission and ACR standards for MRI. Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

Requirements

CA Certified Radiologic Technologist (CRT)
ARRT (MR)
BLS
Minimum of five years MRI experience.
Bachelor’s degree

Nice To Haves

Advanced Training in MRI Safety

Responsibilities

Ensures MRI safety operations and a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.
Reviews Joint Commission alerts routinely and educates staff on new information or safety concerns.
Must be aware of MRI safety laws, accreditation standards, and standards of practice to ensure maintenance of organizational compliance.
MRI safety officer will stay abreast of the current industry safety trends and routinely communicate such trends to the MRI medical director and front line MRI technologists via scheduled MRI safety meetings and continuing education opportunities.
Maintains gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) policy per organizational standards and, along with the MRI medical director, educates all MRI personnel of latest industry standards for GBCA usage.
Works collaboratively with Physicist(s) to maintain optimal image quality, perform medical device testing for safety and maintain organizational approved QA/QC standards.
Must demonstrate and extensive understanding of static and gradient magnetic fields, SAR, burn hazards, optimal patient positioning acoustic noise hazards, and other MRI safety concerns.
Must be aware of indications for use and restrictions of use of the MRI system (s) and the equipment intended for use in the MRI environment.
Responsible for MRI facility safety inspections with an approved safety inspector, to include quench pipe inspections and cryogen maintenance, including record maintenance of each.
Responsible for the identification, posting and enforcement of the 4 zones recommended by the ACR.
Responsible for reporting of and the maintenance of MRI safety and accident records. Records should be part of the performance improvement report for imaging services.
May be involved in the root cause analyses when necessary and will develop and implement a process improvement plan and initiate the redefined process to improve patient and staff safety within the MRI environment.
Maintains up-to-date MRI policies and procedures to ensure the minimization of potential accidents and compliance with regulatory agencies.
Acts as a resource for staff and physicians in matters regarding MRI safety, including MRI conditional devices and unsafe devices.
Routinely reviews MRI safety practices in regards to medication management for contrast safety in MRI.
Operates MRI equipment according to procedure.
Selects appropriate views, angles, scan sequences and coils to assure maximum image quality.
Provides magnet and general safety protection for patient according to prescribed safety standards.
Adjusts imaging protocols and sequences to accommodate the age, body habitus, disease process and condition of each patient.
Performs quality assurance procedures.
Verifies physician orders for exam appropriateness prior to MRI examinations.
Refers questions to Radiologist, referring physician or manager before performing procedures.
All paperwork and data entry is comprehensive and accurate.
Is a role model for thoroughly explaining the procedure to the patient before initiating imaging.
Conducts an interview of the patient prior to the MRI examination to determine patient eligibility and safety for the MRI exam.
Safely transfers patient to and from MRI suite.
Positions patient correctly for MRI examination being performed.
Maintains visual and audible communications with patient throughout exam, checking in with patient throughout to assure they are doing well.
Assists physician in administering contrast, preparing contrast solutions according to procedure.
Checks images for clarity and correct identification.
Able to assist physicians in viewing images which are maintained in the PACS system.
May support hospital with on-call services for MRI.
Fully understands and complies with ensuring proper security of medications.
May have access to cabinets that house emergency medication kits, contrast reaction kits, commercially prepared kits, and to prepare and label medications that are provided to licensed personnel authorized to administer.
Responsible for maintaining PAR Levels and currency of dates on supplies and medications they stock.
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area.
Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs.
Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
Performs other duties as assigned.