School of Diagnostic Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Program

MRI Safety

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines generate a very strong magnetic field within and surrounding the MR Scanner. Although there are no known risks to the operator and/or patient for the use of MRI Clinically, there are safety precautions that should be taken seriously. Seeing as the magnetic field is always on, unsecured magnetically susceptible (Ferromagnetic) materials (even at a distance) can become accelerated into the bore of the magnet with a force sufficient enough to cause severe injury or damage to the equipment, patient, and/or any personnel in its path.

Anyone entering in this environment without being screened by the qualified MR personnel may potentially endanger the safety of everyone in the MRI environment. It is the qualified MR personnel, especially the MRI technologist’s, responsibility to control all access to the scanner room.

As a MRI program student, you too become part of this safety team adhering and obligated to all MRI Safety policies and procedures. At any point a student has doubt, an MRI technologist and/or radiologist should be consulted for reasoning and assurance on the correct answer.

Each student must fill out, sign, and return the student MR safety screening form to the MRI program director/clinical coordinator to be filed. This is a prerequisite during the interviewing process.

Pregnant health care workers rarely find themselves in the MR system during acquisition of the data. There is little or no exposure to the gradient field and RF electromagnetic fields. The main exposure to the pregnant healthcare worker is to a static magnetic field. This level of exposure is not considered to be detrimental to the embryo or fetus.

The guideline for the pregnant technologist or student, regardless of the trimester, can perform MR exam or procedure, as well as enter the scan room to position, set up and or attend to the patient. Importantly the pregnant technologist or student should not remain in the MR system room or magnetic bore during actual operation of the MR system.

ACR Guidance Documentation for Safe MR Practices: 2007 states:

Pregnant healthcare practitioners are permitted to work in/around the MR environment throughout all stages of their pregnancy. Acceptable activities include, but are not limited to, positioning patients, scanning, archiving, injecting contrast material, and entering the MR scan room response to an emergency. Although permitted to work in/around the MR environment, pregnant healthcare practitioners are requested not to remain within the MR scanner bore or Zone IV during actual data acquisition/scanning.

Students are advised that childbirth and/or pregnancy could interrupt their educational progress. Although there is no known harm to the fetus while working within the MRI environment, the MRI Program allows the student the choice of declaration to the program, if she were to become pregnant. If the student decides to declare their pregnancy, they should notify the MRI program director/clinical coordinator.

Further instructions on enrolled students and pregnancy are located in the MRI Program Student Handbook and/or can be discussed by contacting the MRI program director.

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