Keeping it safe: MRI site design, operations, and surveillance at an extended university health system

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety has attracted increasing attention both within the radiology community and in general. Although much of this attention has been spurred by high-profile accidents, the wide distribution of increasingly powerful MRI technology makes safety a paramount concern. While the ACR has sponsored an overarching policy statement regarding MRI safety (The ACR White Paper on MR Safety), and many articles have reported specific hazards and evaluated myriad devices, this paper describes in detail the practical implementation of safe MRI practice at a large medical center. The implementation focuses on 3 key areas: (1) site access restriction, (2) personnel management, and (3) equipment. In addition, a comprehensive and proactive program for MRI safety surveillance and preemptive action is presented. This last step is key to maintaining the effectiveness of an MRI safety program.