Testing/Go Live - Full Service

MRI “Go Live"-Physicist Testing and Approval, Staff Training, Patient Scanning and More - Module #19

Everyone who has ever represented owners/physicians/clients who have gone through months of planning, some teeth gnashing, anxiety, fear of failure, excitement and implementation, and the many steps necessary to making the start-up of an MRI Imaging Center project a reality, has come to love the MRI related term; “Go Live”. That term reflects the day in the buildout of MRI Imaging Center, the patient appointments that you will be scanning, are real patients who require an MRI study, or scan, and if you have done everything right, your MRI Imaging Center can be reimbursed for the scans that you have performed on that day, and all the days that follow.

Let us discuss the steps that lead up to your “GO LIVE” day since the day they delivered your MRI some 4 to 6 weeks prior to “Go Live”

Your MRI Magnet was delivered successfully into your MRI Magnet Room, along with a delivery of additional large supplies in crates from the MRI supplier that will steadily be installed on the stripped down magnet that was delivered. Room measurements and 5 Gauss field line placements are confirmed with your MRI supplier planning and project personnel.  You will have an MRI engineer on site now who is going to keep your MRI on life support while the MRI Magnet Room knockout wall was repaired including shielding, and the room was “Buttoned Up” as they say (two weeks is standard to button up the wall ) The RF Shield was tested and passed. Your field engineers installed the Waveguide and the Cryogen Venting was hooked to the MRI unit. All the MRI RF shield penetrations such as overhead lighting, acoustic stereo system, remote contrast Injection, all penetration panel wall opening are completed and in place. The full MRI technologist control room and the crucial MRI equipment room are being completed and brought on Line. The overhead ceiling structures are in place and ready to accept cable trays. HVAC systems are on line and meet the various room system temperature and humidity requirements. Power for the MRI compressor and chiller are online. The MRI equipment room supplemental cooling has been turned on and is being monitored.

All electrical outlets are fully functional.

Your MRI Magnet has been installed fully and the MRI field engineers have satisfactorily tested the IP addresses and have successfully sent test images without loss of file integrity , to the teleradiology group, and the teleradiology group has sent mock reports back to your MRI center in the period of time your group has set as acceptable. Safety signage on doors, hallways, for Zones 1-4 and no admittance, will have been clearly identified and all other safety placards are in place and staff members have been educated. Room Key control will now need to be strictly enforced to ensure no one can wander into the MRI Magnet room and equipment room as well. The lead MRI technologist is in place the month to two months prior to “Go Live” of the MRI. Patient Scanning, policies and procedures, and safety protocols have been written and put into place by the lead MRI Technologist. The lead technologist has ordered supplies that have arrived. The locked imaging scan contrast cabinet has been secured, probably wall mounted in the MRI operator control room, and contrast has been ordered.  All control room operator MRI laptop, desktop peripherals, such as scanners and printers are put on line. Will test all desk top devices and programs supplied by the MRI Imaging supplier. Finally getting closer, the MRI is “topped off” with liquid helium.

Final 10 days before “Go Live”

The field engineer for the MRI supplier, who has been assembling, cryogen fueling, testing your MRI IP address send and receive process ,with the teleradiology firm, and who has completed some scanning tests, has signaled they are ready to turn the MRI unit over to you for acceptance! Does it work as it should? No worries, you will have asked the MRI engineer a month or two before when they thought they might turn the unit over to you. They gave you a date, and you contacted your state certified physicist who is now scheduled on site for one day to test your MRI image quality and potential for artifacts. The Physicist has brought either their MRI Phantom (fluid filled cylindrical test block that replicates the responses that would be provided by a human when receiving an MRI) , or the MRI Phantom that you purchased in advance at our suggestion (which you will need for testing in house and quality control, and will need to purchase). The MRI Physicist will spend the day testing your MRI functioning and quality to verify whether the Images are acceptable. Your physicist should provide final positive approval of the correct functioning of your new MRI. If there are image artifact issues that have arisen, the MRI engineer will check for any problems with the MRI unit while the Physicist is still on site, and potentially make some adjustments. This should only take one day. For the next five days or so, your MRI Technologist will be trained on the use of your new equipment by a member of the MRI manufacturer training team, which you will have scheduled approximately two months in advance.

Training should be arranged for all of your MRI technologist members, both full time primary technologist, and any additional full time or part time technologists if you have any. It is wise to have a well-trained back up technologist available for sick days, high volume days, education days off, vacation days, and whenever you might need future assistance before committing to a second full or part-time technologist.

Plan for the future, plan for technologist back up, plan for possible longer more flexible MRI Imaging Center business hours (earlier or later in the day, some weekend hours)? And follow the scan volume projected on the Imaging Center Financial and Business Viability Analysis (section 3).

After MRI training is completed, assuming there are no artifacts and image quality is very good, and the machine is working as designed, the MRI Magnet can be signed for with the MRI Imaging Vendor as acceptable. Your lease agreement date begins, or your purchase in now in place. Assuming you have managed care insurance agreements that are in place, and there are now patients in your MRI Imaging Center patient schedule, let the MRI studies begin.

In this Consultation and Assistance Module we will address

*The absolute must do’s, and must not do’s, for this project period leading to the time of “GO LIVE.” We can work with you and provide that checklist for you based on our experience and what we learn from you, about your project.

*Let us tell you the number or reasons why Physicist availability and Testing of your MRI unit is so important, and benefits you both in the short term and long term. Additional understanding they work for you, not any regulatory agency .

*Let us tell you why you want a physicist that you can contact whenever you need them?

*Let’s talk about crucial MRI technologist training leading to the GO LIVE day that should be paid for by the MRI Magnet supplier. Let us provide information on what is standard in the industry so that you know what you can ensure is provided by your MRI supplier and if not provided, we can negotiate the necessary amount of annual training days.

*MRI Department Policies and Procedures.

*MRI zone safeguards and MRI Magnet Room Security Procedures.

*Patient notifications of MRI Center Physician Ownership.

*Let us share information on the numerous and varied MRI supplies and their costs , which are often overlooked and are going to be important from day one.

*Interior and exterior signage, safety, and wayfinding, building and campus.

*Patient Education Materials

*Community announcement and creation of newsworthy free public relations.

*How to use free corporate advertising and press materials to your benefit.

*We will answer all your questions.

 

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PLANNING, DESIGN, BUILDOUT, and IMPLEMENTATION of your PROFITABLE MRI IMAGING CENTER

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