Radiology societies are hosting free virtual events, educational webcasts, and safety campaigns to promote safe MRI practices during MR Safety Week, running July 27-31.
The International Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists (ISMRT) is offering a series of daily virtual meetings, with sessions covering topics including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's MAUDE database, management of unlabeled passive implants, remote scanning safety, and fire incidents in MRI departments. Each session offers up to 1.0 hour of Category A continuing education credit, according to the organization.
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), which is marking the week from July 26 to August 1, is offering downloadable safety posters covering claustrophobia and patient anxiety, hearing protection, burn prevention, projectile prevention, and device screening, the organization said. ASRT is also hosting a live webcast, "MR Imaging Anxiety Is an MR Safety Issue: What Technologists Need to Know," on July 30.
Meanwhile, in the U.K., the British Institute of Radiology (BIR) is publishing new safety advice sheets during the week, including an update on the international standard defining MR safety labelling terms such as "MR safe," "MR conditional," and "MR unsafe," according to the organization. The British Association of MRI Radiographers is separately publishing daily safety resources during the week.
MR Safety Week observances trace to the 2001 death of Michael Colombini, a 6-year-old boy who died from an MRI-related incident involving a steel oxygen cylinder brought into the scan room.
