Inaccurate patient information and outdated vendor manuals can lead to safety risks for patients with active, implanted medical devices during MRIs, according to a study published Oct. 3 in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology.
Researchers from Phoenix-based Mayo Clinic in Arizona's radiology department investigated the accuracy of the device and patient data it was using to ensure MRI safety.
Here are five things to know:
- A total of 749 patient records between March 202 and April 2023 were reviewed for the study.
- Sixteen percent of the records contained incomplete or incorrect patient implant information.
- Of those cases, 47% had the potential to affect MRI safety.
- Seventy-eight percent of the cases with inaccurate or incomplete data were due to a missing or outdated device manual.
- Addressing organizational issues surrounding vendor manuals and accurate patient information collection can improve the safety of radiology department workflows, the researchers wrote.