I will summarise some changes to YNiC policies and procedures below, but you are all encouraged to review the changed documents listed at the end of this email for full details.

[ Apologies - MRI operators will receive part of this email in duplicate ]

(1) How we handle anomalies:  when we see something in a scan that we are unsure about we will send it for review by a radiologist -- as we have always done. A minor change to the procedure has been made: we used to write to the participant who's data had been sent on the same day as we sent their data for review. We would then write to them again once the report was returned to us and forwarded to their GP. Now, we will only write to them on one occasion - after the report has been returned to us. Feel free to contact me directly if you need clarification to the logic behind this change - it is not simply to save on postage but mainly to minimise the potential period of concern or distress caused to participants.

(2) MRI Level 0 trainees can scan alone with a Level 3 MRI operator: It has been decided after extensive review that L0 operators in training can be accompanied by an experienced L3 without an additional operator in the MRI scan room. This is a change to policy. This can only be done when
  - (a) the L0 in training has completed a first aid certification and
  - (b) the L0 has completed initial L0 training and
  - (c) there is another qualified L0, L1, L2 or L3 operator (in addition to the L0 trainee and L3 operator already in the scan room) in the building who has signed the session screening safety safety and consent form and certified that they will remain in the YNiC building for the duration of the MRI session so that they can be called upon if necessary and
  - (d) the qualified L0, L1, L2 or L3 who has agreed to stay in the building must witness the participant being screened and
  - (e) 3 signatures are placed on the session screening safety safety and consent form
  - (f) at every scan session while the L0 still in training the L0 should demonstrate that they can operate that scanner bed and that they know where the emergency call alarm is.

(3) Safety and consent forms require printed name and signature: With increasing scanner usage and operator numbers it is more necessary than ever for us to be able to log exactly who was responsible for scanning session safety. Operators should clearly print their full name and then sign the session screening safety safety and consent form - new boxes have been provided.

(4) Logging changes of operator during a scan: If there is a change of operator during scanning (sometime operators will switch to give each other a break), the incoming operator must also sign the session screening safety safety and consent form. New fields have been added.


The above summarises the changes reflected in the following 5 policy documents which will be uploaded to the YNiC website shortly:

 -- Anomalous Findings Policy: https://wiki.pages.ynic.york.ac.uk/UserResources/Policies/ClinicalDiagnosticPolicy.html

 -- MRI Local Rules (latest release v8)

 -- MRI Training Scheme (latest release v8)

-- Siemens MRI Console Operation Manual for Level 1 Operators (latest release v2)

-- MRI Session screening safety safety and consent form (latest release v5)


Please email support@ynic.york.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Best wishes,

André & the YNiC team


************************************************************************

André Gouws PhD
Lead Technical Specialist
York Neuroimaging Centre and York Diagnostic Imaging
Departmental Safety Advisor - Dept. of Psychology
University of York
The Biocentre
York Science Park
Heslington