Major Radiology Errors and How to Prevent Them

Medical Error
Adverse Event
Unpreventable Adverse Events
Near Miss
System
System Error

Statistics

Numbers of Medical Errors Each Year
Numbers of Deaths Due to Medical Errors Yearly
Numbers of Preventable Medical Errors Each Year
Cost of preventable errors to the system

Why are These Medical Errors Occurring in Radiology

Systems
Complexity
Resources
Work Environment
Amount of Information
Culture
Independence vs. Team Work
Opting Opt
Technical Failures
Inadequate Policies/Procedures

Examples of Staff Medical Errors in the Radiology Department

Patient Identification
Labeling of Radiographic Images
Patient Falls
Medication Management
Patient Information
Patient Hand-Off
Communication with Team Members

Prevention of Errors

Presence of a Safe Environment
Full Support for Collaborative Care
Ability to Stop a Procedure When Indicated
Team Approach to Care
Control Over Timing of Process Changes, Inservices, etc.
Clarity in Intent and Number of Policies
Elimination of Ability to Opt Out
Using an FMEA Related Procedure Before New Processes are Implemented
Full Implementation of Reporting of Errors and Near Misses
Adequate Resources with Clear Performance Expectations
Policy and Practice of Full Disclosure

What is Our Obligation?

To Keep Patients Safe
To Provided the Care and Services Expected
To Keep Patients Error Free
To Advise When an Error Occurs, the Impact of that Error and What
Will be Done to Correct that Error
Labeling of Radiographic Images
Patient Falls
Medication Management
Patient Information
Patient Hand-Off
Communication with Team Members