Usage of an Electronic Database and Checklist System for Improvement in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition

Abstract Purpose To determine whether implementation of an easily accessible electronic database promotes significant reporting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition errors. Additionally, we wanted to see if analysis of the error reports could be used to create a comprehensive checklist to avoid the most common errors. Methods A new, simple, and efficient electronic database reporting system was written in-house and implemented at our institution. Over the course of 4 months, the use of this database enabled collection and analysis of sufficient data for trend analysis. A simple 4-point checklist for MRI technologist use was developed based on the most commonly reported errors. Reported MRI acquisition error rates were collected and analyzed thereafter. Results By the first full month of implementation, MRI scan error reporting increased from a previous negligible baseline rate to 3.03%. The comprehensive checklist was based on the 4 most common issues reported. Verification of checklist use showed that adherence to this requirement averaged greater than 94%. Immediately following roll out of the checklist, the percentage of errors reported fell to 1.7% with a continued decline in error reports thereafter. An approximately 60% reduction in errors in the last month of the study was evident as compared to the first month of data collection. Conclusions The use of an efficient error reporting system and implementation of a checklist based on the most common MRI acquisition errors results in a substantial decrease in the baseline MRI acquisition error rates.