IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-6-11-13265 Original Research Paper IMPLEMENTING PROTOCOLS TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY IN THE MEDICAL IMAGING DEPARTMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON USE OF GADOLINIUM FOR RENAL FAILURE MOHD NIZAMUDDIN Dr. November 2017 6 11 01 02 ABSTRACT

 Patient safety is a focal point in healthcare because of recent changes issued by CMS. Hospital reimbursement rates have fallen, and these reimbursement rates are governed by CMS mandates regarding patient safety procedures. Reimbursement changes are reflected in the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) administered annually by The Joint Commission. Medical imaging departments have multiple areas of patient safety concerns including effective handoff communication, proper patient identification, and safe medication/contrast administration. This literature review examines those areas of patient safety within the medical imaging department and reveals the need for continued protocol and policy changes to keep patients safe. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and moderate–to–severe impairment of kidney function who had not previously been exposed to gadolinium–based contrast agents (GBCAs) or referred to undergo contrast–enhanced MRI with gadobenate dimeglumine or gadoteridol