Unit 21C
P:
Keeping operators of the machinery and patients undergoing the procedure safe is
considered the most important principle of the process by all those in the medical
profession. Non-ionising technologies are generally very safe when handled by a person
with the right skills. One example of this is ultrasounds, ultrasounds are used for safe
diagnosis and imaging. However, ultrasounds can damage biological tissue through heating
caused by the energy of the ultrasound waves. Ultrasounds can also lead to gas pockets
forming in body tissue, although this is not very common. As a result, ultrasound imaging for
pregnant women is shortened to minimalize the amount of time the developing foetus is
imaged.
Safe operating procedures (SOPs):
Safe operating procedures (SOPs) are used so that all non-ionising technologies are
operated skilfully and correctly and do not pose any risks to the operator or the patient. The
main basis of safe operating procedures is the same in all workplaces, but certain details
might be different. The following SOPs are to be carried out by medical practitioners who
work with non-ionising technologies (ultrasound, MRI, LASERs) and ensure the safety of the
operator, patient, and the equipment itself.
To patient:
Understand the biological effects of the technique to be undertaken in terms of the
potential hazards.
Minimise the dosage of the technique to ensure that sufficient doses are used to
determine appropriate diagnosis, imaging or treatment but are no more than is
required.
To operator:
Possess the relevant medical qualifications.
Confirm the identity and medical details of the patient prior to the examination.
Be thoroughly conversant with the operation of and operational limits of the
equipment to be used.
Take full responsibility of the procedure to be carried out within the local medical
guidelines and practice.
Identify and accept the scope of use of the procedure to be undertaken and to adhere
strictly to the planned procedure.
Follow or develop of formal plan or scheme of work for the procedure to be
undertaken, using documented medical guidelines.
To equipment:
, Have a detailed understanding and knowledge of the equipment to be used and
ensure that regular inspection and maintenance of the equipment has taken place.
Ensure that electrical safety tests, repair tests and recording and imaging equipment
tests have been carried out in accordance with the required guidelines and within the
specified timescales.
Ensure that transducer equipment has been well maintained and appropriately
cleaned, especially for inserted probes.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the legislative body that is the head of regulating
and enforcing health and safety matters in medical establishments in the UK.
The HSE carries out many inspections on the use of certain medical instruments and
equipment as well as the operating conditions of the staff and works with the law to make
sure that the findings of its reports are enforced correctly and where they are necessary.
In conjunction with this enforcement agency, regulation of medical devices and medicines
is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
This is an executive agency of the Department of Health (DoE).
Risks of MRI:
To patient:
MRIs use a large magnet to produce an internal image of the patients’ body. This magnet
can be a danger to the patient if the patient has any metal plates in their body or is wearing
jewellery/watches during a scan. Before a patient can be given an MRI, they should:
have their medical history checked to see if they have had any surgeries which
involved bone replacements with a metal part (hip replacement). The magnetic fields
of the scanner can create electrical currents in the metal which leads to the tissues
around it being heated.
remove any jewellery/ watches that could be pulled by the magnetic fields of the
scanner causing injury to the patient and possibly damaging the scanner.
To operators:
Operators of MRI scanners will need the right qualifications to operate the machines safely
and correctly. Along with their initial training they will need continued training if their
qualifications expire, or the MRI scanner gets renewed. This ensures the safety of the
patient and the operators. Operators also have to remove their jewellery/watches before
carrying out a scan as it could also interfere with the magnetic force of the scanner.
Risks of Ultrasound:
To patient and operators:
Increased exposure to ultrasound waves leads to heating up of tissues, changes in pressure
and other mechanical disturbances. Operators should check patients medical history for
past scans to minimise the amount of exposure. Operators must have the right
P:
Keeping operators of the machinery and patients undergoing the procedure safe is
considered the most important principle of the process by all those in the medical
profession. Non-ionising technologies are generally very safe when handled by a person
with the right skills. One example of this is ultrasounds, ultrasounds are used for safe
diagnosis and imaging. However, ultrasounds can damage biological tissue through heating
caused by the energy of the ultrasound waves. Ultrasounds can also lead to gas pockets
forming in body tissue, although this is not very common. As a result, ultrasound imaging for
pregnant women is shortened to minimalize the amount of time the developing foetus is
imaged.
Safe operating procedures (SOPs):
Safe operating procedures (SOPs) are used so that all non-ionising technologies are
operated skilfully and correctly and do not pose any risks to the operator or the patient. The
main basis of safe operating procedures is the same in all workplaces, but certain details
might be different. The following SOPs are to be carried out by medical practitioners who
work with non-ionising technologies (ultrasound, MRI, LASERs) and ensure the safety of the
operator, patient, and the equipment itself.
To patient:
Understand the biological effects of the technique to be undertaken in terms of the
potential hazards.
Minimise the dosage of the technique to ensure that sufficient doses are used to
determine appropriate diagnosis, imaging or treatment but are no more than is
required.
To operator:
Possess the relevant medical qualifications.
Confirm the identity and medical details of the patient prior to the examination.
Be thoroughly conversant with the operation of and operational limits of the
equipment to be used.
Take full responsibility of the procedure to be carried out within the local medical
guidelines and practice.
Identify and accept the scope of use of the procedure to be undertaken and to adhere
strictly to the planned procedure.
Follow or develop of formal plan or scheme of work for the procedure to be
undertaken, using documented medical guidelines.
To equipment:
, Have a detailed understanding and knowledge of the equipment to be used and
ensure that regular inspection and maintenance of the equipment has taken place.
Ensure that electrical safety tests, repair tests and recording and imaging equipment
tests have been carried out in accordance with the required guidelines and within the
specified timescales.
Ensure that transducer equipment has been well maintained and appropriately
cleaned, especially for inserted probes.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the legislative body that is the head of regulating
and enforcing health and safety matters in medical establishments in the UK.
The HSE carries out many inspections on the use of certain medical instruments and
equipment as well as the operating conditions of the staff and works with the law to make
sure that the findings of its reports are enforced correctly and where they are necessary.
In conjunction with this enforcement agency, regulation of medical devices and medicines
is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
This is an executive agency of the Department of Health (DoE).
Risks of MRI:
To patient:
MRIs use a large magnet to produce an internal image of the patients’ body. This magnet
can be a danger to the patient if the patient has any metal plates in their body or is wearing
jewellery/watches during a scan. Before a patient can be given an MRI, they should:
have their medical history checked to see if they have had any surgeries which
involved bone replacements with a metal part (hip replacement). The magnetic fields
of the scanner can create electrical currents in the metal which leads to the tissues
around it being heated.
remove any jewellery/ watches that could be pulled by the magnetic fields of the
scanner causing injury to the patient and possibly damaging the scanner.
To operators:
Operators of MRI scanners will need the right qualifications to operate the machines safely
and correctly. Along with their initial training they will need continued training if their
qualifications expire, or the MRI scanner gets renewed. This ensures the safety of the
patient and the operators. Operators also have to remove their jewellery/watches before
carrying out a scan as it could also interfere with the magnetic force of the scanner.
Risks of Ultrasound:
To patient and operators:
Increased exposure to ultrasound waves leads to heating up of tissues, changes in pressure
and other mechanical disturbances. Operators should check patients medical history for
past scans to minimise the amount of exposure. Operators must have the right
