HospitalInspections.org

Based on policy review and staff interview, it has been determined that the hospital failed to provide competency-based training and education to MRI staff on infection prevention and control guidelines, policies, and procedures relative to the cleaning of the MRI area, including the machine, after imaging COVID positive patients.

Findings are as follows:

The American College of Radiology "Guidance on COVID 19 and MR [magnetic resonance imaging]," last revised in December 2021, states, in part, "General guidelines exist, including cleaning protocol with approved disinfecting agents following a clockwise, linear, top to bottom pattern of cleaning all visible surfaces..."

During an interview with the Systems Risk Manager on 1/5/2022 at approximately 2:00 PM, she acknowledged that there were recently two COVID positive patients imaged in MRI on 12/29/2021 and 12/31/2021, Patient ID #'s 1 and 2.

On 1/5/2022 at approximately 2:10 PM surveyor interviewed Staff A and Staff B, both MRI technicians. Staff A stated that she was notified that she was responsible for cleaning the MRI area after imaging COVID positive patients when Patient ID # 1's MRI was ordered. Both Staff A and Staff B stated that they had not been provided training, education, or guidance as to how to properly clean the area after imaging COVID positive patients.

During an interview with the hospital Risk Management Coordinator on 1/13/2022, she was unable to provide evidence of an MRI COVID cleaning policy/guideline or of the MRI staff being trained or educated on proper cleaning of the MRI area after imaging COVID positive patients prior to 1/13/2022, when the guideline and "read and sign" education were provided. Additionally, she acknowledged that, going forward, the MRI technicians will not be performing the cleaning, as they were prior to this survey.