Magnetic Resonance (MR) safety education is essential to protect patients and staff from hazards, especially by preventing ferrous items from entering Zones 3 (control and changing areas) and 4 (magnet room). To address this, our MR Safety Committee focused on improving safety signage. A Radiology Human Factors Engineer (HFE) observed staff interactions within MR zones, focusing on adherence to entrance screening protocols. The observations revealed that non-MR medical professionals, less familiar with safety protocols, could unintentionally enter with hazardous items, and that staff may check on their first entry, but forget to check again on subsequent re-entry. Therefore, new signage needed to be eye-catching and memorable. In 2023, the committee introduced "Tess" (short for Tesla), a life-size cardboard cutout of an MR Safety mascot. Tess, a cartoon MR technologist in scrubs, highlights common ferrous items staff should check for, head-to-toe. She holds a sign reading, “You are about to enter Zone 3: Are you CLEAR?” followed by the item list and CLEAR acronym’s safety instructions. The concept, acronym, and design were developed by the HFE with input from the MR team and digitally rendered by a medical illustrator using Adobe Illustrator 2023. The design adheres to the hospital’s branding and was printed by an external vendor. Tess was placed at the Zone 3 entrance in three different MR areas. After positive feedback from technologists and committee members, the Facilities team expanded Tess’s presence by adding her to large vinyl signs on Zone 4 doors where she points to frequently overlooked ferrous items. During the 2024 MR Safety Week, Tess was central to hands-on education. Radiology interns 3D-printed the ferrous items Tess highlights, allowing staff to physically engage with the mascot and remove the items. This interactive approach drew participants in to spread awareness of MR safety practices. Tess was also integrated into the hospital’s online MR safety training module, developed by the Digital Learning team. In this module, users drag items from Tess’s pockets, hair, and hands into a designated locker, reinforcing the habit of checking for those ferrous objects. We are monitoring Tess’s impact on compliance and safety and believe she could be adapted for use in other high-risk areas, such as operating rooms and interventional radiology suites, where strict safety protocols are crucial. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2025 Annual Meeting , 2025

Authors: Bennett Brittany, Larsen Ethan, Prodigios Joice, Silvestro Elizabeth

Keywords: Quality And Safety, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Demonstrate the breadth and value of integrating a human factors engineer into a pediatric radiology department. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2023 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2023

Authors: Larsen Ethan, Miranda Schaeubinger Monica, Won James, Sze Raymond, Anupindi Sudha

Keywords: Quality, Safety, Human Factors

Radiologists spend a disproportionate amount of time at their PACS workstations, both in the hospital and at home. While many institutions have deployed basic ergonomic accommodations such as high quality chairs and adjustable desks, they continue to use basic keyboards and mice with minimal supportive technologies. Research in other domains has shown that providing workers with control over their environment can result in improvement in wellness and potential reduction in burnout, along with bolstering productivity. We aim to examine of the benefits relative to costs of giving radiologists control over the types of ergonomic equipment and inclusion of supportive hardware for their work. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2024 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2024

Authors: Larsen Ethan, Jalloul Mohammad, Parmar Sweta, Kaplan Summer, Anupindi Sudha

Keywords: Ergonomics, Human Factors

Reading Room Coordinators (RRCs) are crucial for radiology department operations. Studies have shown the positive impact of RRCs in improving workflow efficiency for radiologists. Despite their critical role in facilitating communication and minimizing disruptions to radiologists’, RRCs often experience significant workflow interruptions, primarily due to constant phone calls and multitasking demands. Our practice’s RRCs receive ~7700 inbound calls per week in addition to all outbound calls, emails, and legal requests. These interruptions may impact radiologists, radiology operations, other hospital departments, and patients and families downstream. We examined the barriers affecting RRC workflow using the SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) framework from human factors (HF). We implemented interventions to overcome those barriers to increase efficiency, reduce interruptions, and improve the work environment. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2025 Annual Meeting , 2025

Authors: Parmar Sweta, Liu Ray, Larsen Ethan, Macon Reyna, Nigro Alessandria, Silvestro Elizabeth, Anupindi Sudha

Keywords: Workload, Wellness, Improvement