7 Clinical Incident Reporting
Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Programs (RISP) students must follow all OSHA guidelines, safe patient care practices, and ethical behavior throughout their clinical rotations. Failure to follow any of the safety or professional behavior guidelines mentioned in the RISP or Diagnostic Sonography Clinical Handbook that could harm patients, technologists, staff members, and/or members of the public are subject to disciplinary action.
As a learning institution, we understand that mistakes are a part of the learning process, and unavoidable accidents can occur. To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and patients, prompt, and honest reporting of any major or minor incidents during a student’s clinical rotation must be reported to the Diagnostic Sonography Clinical Coordinator and Program Director using the program’s Incident Reporting Form. By reporting clinical incidents, the program can identify any deficiencies in the student’s learning environment and help implement corrective actions as needed.
The student’s responsibility is to report any incidents, accidents, injuries, or near-accidents that result in risk or potential risk to patients, visitors, employees, or students during clinical hours. If an incident occurs, students should immediately inform the site Clinical Instructor and program Clinical Coordinator. Once reported, the student must complete and submit the program’s Incident Reporting Form to the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director. This form must be submitted within 24 hours of the occurring incident.
Some incidents are considered more significant than others. Each reported incident will undergo review and will be determined as either major or minor. Disciplinary action will be based on the severity of the incident and is at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director. Both major and minor incidents require the completion of an Incident Reporting Form. The completed form will be filed and saved as part of the student’s permanent record. If the same student continues to accumulate incident reports throughout the program for avoidable behavior, it may be identified as a poor pattern of behavior and result in steeper disciplinary action.
A brief description of major and minor incidents is given below.
Major incidents result in harm or potential harm to a person(s) involved. Examples of a major incident include but are not limited to, imaging the incorrect body part, imaging the wrong patient, injuring oneself or another person in an avoidable situation, HIPAA violations, etc.
When a major incident is caused by negligence, unsafe practices in a clinical setting, inappropriate behavior, or a RISP or Diagnostic Sonography policy violation, the student may face disciplinary action, which is at the discretion of the clinical coordinator and/or program director.
Minor incidents do not result in harm or potential harm to a person(s) involved and/or were not caused by negligence, unsafe practices in a clinical setting, inappropriate behavior, or a RISP or Diagnostic Sonography policy violation. These types of incidents are considered near misses or unavoidable accidents. These types of incidents are considered a near miss or an unavoidable accident. Examples of a minor incident include but are not limited to accidentally dropping a transducer.
Students with either major or minor incidents are subject to disciplinary action, grade reductions, or program dismissal depending on the severity of the incident.
When creating a new Incident Reporting Form be certain to FIRST SAVE A COPY WITH YOUR NAME in the file name.