Preventing MRI Incidents in Hospitals
By Amy J. Antonacci, MSN, RN, Senior Standards Interpretation Specialist
Amy Antonacci, MSN, RN, is a senior standards interpretation specialist and surveyor for ACHC Acute Care and Critical Access Hospital Accreditation programs. Before joining ACHC in 2023, Amy spent 13 years as CNO for an acute care hospital, with system-wide responsibility for two years. She has been a nurse for 35 years and has a passion for patient safety.
Posted: May 11, 2026
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner uses no ionizing radiation to obtain the images it produces and is considered one of the optimal diagnostic modalities available in modern medicine. In 2026, it remains an amazing piece of equipment for advanced diagnostics—but can potentially cause harm in the absence of a strong safety program.
The MRI scanner is a powerful diagnostic piece of equipment that uses strong magnetic fields and computer-generated waves to produce high-resolution anatomical images of patients’ organs, tissues, and skeletal system. About 40 million MRI scans are performed annually in the U.S., most commonly in a hospital setting. While the scanner is relatively safe, it is not without some potential risks that can cause serious harm or even death to patients, staff, or anyone who encounters it.
How the scanner works
Most people don’t understand how an MRI scanner works. They may know that nothing magnetic can be close to the scanner, but they may not know exactly why. A 1.5T MRI scanner generates a magnetic force that is approximately 21,000 times greater than the earth’s natural field. This magnetic force extends beyond the machine in different gradients, with the strongest magnetic pull closest to the scanner.
But, even at a distance, magnetic objects can be forcibly pulled toward the magnet with missile-like speed and potential harmful effect. Incidents involving magnetic equipment being accidentally and violently pulled toward and into the scanner continue to occur around the world. In almost all cases, investigations of the incidents determined that safety protocols were not followed and most were preventable.
MRI safety basics
Hospitals should teach every employee the most important fact about MRIs: THE SCANNER IS ALWAYS ON. This means that the strong magnetic field is always present. An electrical power shutdown or “quench” procedures to dissipate the magnetic field result in expensive repairs and lengthy downtime and should be avoided except in an emergency.
This basic understanding of the MRI scanner allows for situational awareness by all hospital employees, regardless of their roles. Nurses, transport personnel, security officers, and EVS and facilities staff should all be trained to understand this basic principle. This knowledge promotes adherence to the safety guidelines that restrict entrance to the MRI scanning area and is the first and best foundational step to promoting safety.
ACR guidelines
ACHC Hospital Accreditation Standards require all hospitals to adhere to nationally recognized safety standards for MRI scanners. The ACR Manual on MR Safety, published by the American College of Radiology (ACR), is the industry standard. Hospitals should be familiar with and follow the guidelines, which were updated in 2024.
The ACR guidelines are comprehensive and address safety policies, MRI zones, personnel training and staffing, screening, implanted devices, physiological monitoring of the patient, patient emergencies, emergency shutoff procedures, and many other topics. Monitoring and reporting on MRI safety quality indicators as well as near miss events to the hospital's QAPI Program is paramount to maintaining a high-quality, safe MRI Program.
Know your scanner
This year, spend time learning about the MRI scanner in your hospital. Determine if MRI education is provided to appropriate personnel, and if the MRI department policies are comprehensive and aligned with ACR guidelines. Your hospital’s efforts may help prevent serious incidents from an incredible machine that can cause harm when safety protocols are not understood or followed.
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