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/ClinicalDiagnosti…
-- 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(a)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
YO10 5NY
Working arrangements - please note that I work part time hours and that I
work flexibly so that I am not always available to respond immediately.