43 MRI Student Safety Policy
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to inform all incoming Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSOM) Radiology and Imaging Sciences Programs (RISP) students regarding Magnetic Resonance (MR) Safety.
Policy: MR is a diagnostic tool that utilizes a powerful static magnet field, time-varying gradient magnetic fields and radio waves (RF) to generate images of the body. All incoming IUSOM RISP students may have the opportunity to complete a clinical rotation in MR. The powerful magnet associated with the MR system is ALWAYS ‘ON’ and certain implanted devices are considered incompatible or unsafe in the MR environment or MR system room (i.e., the immediate area in and around the MR system). Devices such as cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulation systems, cochlear implants, hearing aids, implantable infusion pumps, implantable or external insulin pumps and many other similar devices should not be exposed to the MR environment or MR system room.
Students considering a career in MR should be aware of the potential hazards of exposure to the MR environment or MR system room and the need for careful screening and constant vigilance regarding safety. All incoming RISP students must complete the IUSOM RISP MR Safety Self-Assessment Form to self-screen and identify all safety concerns before working in the MR environment; information regarding concerns can be found at www.mrisafety.com.
This MR Self-Assessment Form will be made available to all IUSOM RISP students during onboarding and is to be completed by the student, signed, and dated. This completed form is to remain with the student for their record and is to be updated on a regular basis and in conjunction with any medical procedure. All students performing an MR clinical rotation are required to complete a new, additional MR Safety Screening Form at the facility in which their MR rotation will be performed, which is to be reviewed and signed by the supervising, Level 2, MR personnel at each specific clinical site. All students completing subsequent MR rotations at the same clinical site are required to complete a new site-specific MR Safety Screening Form, to be reviewed and signed by the supervising, Level 2, MR personnel.
Additionally, all undergarments containing any metal, especially those with clips, underwire, fastener, etc., are not allowed in any MR clinical site. Therefore, students must arrive at clinic wearing a suitable substitute (sports bras without metal). Prior to arriving at the MR department, students must secure all personal belongings in their student locker in General Radiology. In addition to obtaining consent from the MR technologist on-site, students MUST have previously removed and secured all metallic objects including hearing aids, beeper, cell phone, keys, eyeglasses, hairpins, barrettes, jewelry (including body piercing jewelry), watch, safety pins, paperclips, money clip, credit cards, bank cards, magnetic strip cards, coins, pens, pocket knife, nail clipper, steel-toed boots/shoes, and tools in their locker in General Radiology. Loose metallic objects are prohibited in the MR system room and MR environment.
Furthermore, IUSOM RISP students are prohibited to participate as a volunteer test subject during their clinical rotation(s) in MR or while in their role as a student at any of the IUSOM RISP clinical affiliate sites. This means that all IUSOM RADSCI students cannot get “into” the MR scanner to be scanned or simulate while in their role as a student.
Additional information regarding MR Safe, Unsafe, and Conditional devices can be found at www.mrisafety.com
Rationale: Due to the variations in MR environments among RISP clinical sites, it is impossible to continually evaluate a student’s safety status in an MR suite. This policy ensures that students are aware that health and safety in the MR suite is their responsibility.