The Joint Commission Revised Requirements for Diagnostic Imaging Standards can be downloaded from here:download pdf file
The Joint Commission Imaging Checklist from 2016 can be downloaded from here: download pdf file
Starting January 1, 2009 inpatient and outpatient accredited facilities will need to abide by the new Risk Management provisions of The Joint Commission Environment of Care standard. This new standard specifically cites Sentinel Event Alerts as one external reference that must be considered in defining risks. For MRI facilities, this automatically means Sentinel Event Alert #38
Sentinel Event Alert #38:
Preventing accidents and injuries in the MRI suiteread more
Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in MR Environment.
Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff
FDA recommends that you include one or more of the following as part of your medical device: dead-man brakes, gauss meters mounted on the medical device, and/or nonferromagnetic tethers. A gauss meter mounted on the medical device will not stop an object from being a projectile. However, a gauss meter mounted on the medical device that generates an audible or visual alarm may be helpful in alerting the user when a given static magnetic field is detected.
read more
FDA Patient Safety endorses ACR Guidance Document and Recommends it to All MRI Providers
On October 25th and 26th, 2011, FDA called a special session to address the increasing numbers of MRI accidents. Ferromagnetic Detectors were one of the main topics discussed at the meeting, and it was determined that when added to existing safety procedures, Ferromagnetic Detectors are a very helpful and needed tool for MRI Safety. watch video
NOW 43 STATES HAVE ADOPTED 2022 FGI GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HOSPITALS.
Hospitals in these 43 states with MRI facilities are REQUIRED the use of FERROMAGNETIC DETECTION SYSTEMS.All The Joint Commission accredited facilities MUST follow FGI’s standards, unless their own state-referenced standards already include the latest FGI provisions.
view an excerpt from the guidelines
2020 DIRECTIVE
The New Imaging Services Design Guide from Department of Veterans Affairs Recommends Use of Ferromagnetic Detectors read more
VA MR HAZARD SUMMARY read more
For years Kopp Development Inc. has been leading the way in ferromagnetic detection for MRI Safety. Our reputation and extensive field record speak for themselves. Today, our FerrAlert™ products are being used in many well-known and respected medical centers.
FerrAlert™ is the only ferromagnetic detection system on the market that has extensive, long-term documented performance. A scientific paper on FerrAlert™, co-written by Dr. Emanuel Kanal and Dr. Steven Thomas, was presented at the ASNR 43rd Annual Meeting.
“The apparatus shows excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting even small ferromagnetic articles on patients prior to MR imaging.”
Emanuel Kanal, MD, FACR, FISMRM, AANG
Chair of the ACR Panel on MRI Safety
Professor of Radiology and Neuroradiology
University of Pittsburg Medical Center
From Inspector General Review
On April 10, 2008 INSPECTOR GENERAL released a review of one of our VA customers facility; Independent Outpatient Clinic, Columbus, OH in which the Ferrous Metal Detector Initiative was sited as an "organizational strength" and a "reported accomplishment".
“A ferromagnetic object taken into the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet’s stray field can be pulled into the magnet’s core at high speed causing serious injury, damage, and downtime. This phenomenon is known as the “projectile effect.” Serious incidents of the “projectile effect” have been reported by numerous medical institutions and have involved such objects as gas cylinders, chairs, respirators, intravenous poles, and smaller objects. Such occurrences can result in the loss of imaging time due to repairs and/or result in injury to patients or staff. The Radiology Supervisor recognized the need to initiate ferrous metal screening and installed two detectors in the MRI suite. The detectors are used as ancillary screening devices to improve patient safety by supplementing traditional safety programs, training, and primary screening methods.”
To download architectural drawings 
MANUAL ON MRI SAFETY 2023
Screening for ferromagnetic materials by direct inspection and use of a FMDS is recommended prior to entering Zone III and Zone IV. Implanted and on-planted medical devices, both MR Conditional and MR Unsafe, may include ferromagnetic material (including batteries) that can lead to FMDS activation.
The use of conventional metal detectors that do not differentiate between ferrous and nonferromagnetic materials is NOT recommended.
Testing of objects that are not electrically activated (e.g., fire extinguishers, IV poles, oxygen tanks, step stools), is to be accomplished by MR Personnel exposing the object to a handheld magnet (>1000 G) or Ferromagnetic Detector download entire manual draft
MRI SAFETY PROGRAM ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST
- Device and object screening
- Designation of MR Safe / MR Conditional status
- Reporting of MR Safety incidents
download the entire checklist
ACR TOOLKIT FOR PRACTICE SITES
MRI Safety Program Assessment will be required on Medical Physicist / MR Scientist´s annual QC test performed after July 1, 2016download excerpt
Safety Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment in Clinical Use. Information related to Ferromagnetic Detectors is highlighted on pages: 26, 29, 38, 39, 43 and 58. read more