| One of the greatest technological advances in the | | | | also risk patient safety. MRI safe carts help |
| medical industry within the last forty years has | | | | decrease the amount of these accidents. |
| been the invention of MRI machines. Visualizing | | | | JCAHO is considered one of the most important |
| with precision the internal structure of the body | | | | organizations when it comes to certifying hospitals |
| changed radiologic imaging forever, providing a | | | | and other medical facilities. Their stated mission |
| new level of accuracy without any ionizing | | | | has motivated the increase in safety and the |
| radiation. Instead, a powerful magnetic field is used | | | | quality of patient treatment for the whole |
| to assemble the information regarding various | | | | industry. JCAHO's mission is: "To continuously |
| parts of the body, assisting in the detection of | | | | improve the safety and quality of care provided |
| any abnormalities. | | | | to the public through the provision of health care |
| A problem with this new imaging format was that | | | | accreditation and related services that support |
| now a whole new line of equipment had to be | | | | performance improvement in health care |
| implemented for use in the MRI suites. Most of | | | | organizations." Their approval is sought after by |
| what was previously used in the industry was | | | | virtually every medical facility in both the United |
| magnetic, and therefore unfit for this innovative | | | | States and abroad. |
| procedure. Safety and convenience was the | | | | MRI compatible carts recommended by JCAHO |
| priority. | | | | come in all different varieties and sizes. The |
| Everything near or around the MRI machine must | | | | selection is extensive, whether the facility needs |
| be non-magnetic, only incorporating metals and | | | | PVC or non-magnetic metals, one to five shelves, |
| plastics that are non-ferrous. An essential item for | | | | slide out drawers, lockable cabinets or an IV pole - |
| the MRI medical personnel is at least one | | | | there are multiple options and combinations |
| non-magnetic cart in the room. Being without | | | | available. There are also carts of different |
| these MRI safe carts is simply not an option - the | | | | classifications and with distinctive purposes. Some |
| staff requires easy access to additional | | | | are used specifically for emergencies, anesthesia |
| instruments that assist in the procedure, and the | | | | procedures, utility items, or just general storage. |
| carts provide that service. | | | | The cart choices accessible to the personnel are a |
| According to JCAHO (The Joint Commission on | | | | major contributor to their effectiveness, resulting |
| Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), clinical | | | | in improved efficiency. |
| MRI scanners are up to 60,000 times the | | | | The addition of MRI scans to the medical industry |
| strength of the Earth's own ambient magnetic | | | | has revolutionized radiologic imaging, and including |
| field. This fact is directly connected to the number | | | | non-magnetic carts in an MRI suite is an invaluable |
| of equipment related accidents, which not only | | | | component to the process. |
| have the potential to damage the machines, but | | | | |