Diagnostic MRI Safety and Quality Assurance Working Group

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Overview:

The Quality Assurance and Safety in Diagnostic MRI Working Group (QASID-MRIWG) has been established by the ACPSEM to support the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across Australia and New Zealand.

The Working Group has been convened in recognition of the increasing complexity, utilisation, and clinical importance of diagnostic MRI systems, including the introduction of higher field strengths, advanced imaging techniques, and AI-enabled workflows. The Working Group provides professional leadership and expert guidance on matters relating to MRI quality assurance (QA) and safety practice within a local context.

The primary purpose of the Working Group is to develop two externally facing professional position papers:

  1. Position Paper on Quality Assurance in Diagnostic MRI
  2. Position Paper on Safety in Diagnostic MRI

These documents are intended to support medical physicists, physical scientists, engineers, radiographers, radiologists, healthcare organisations, regulators, and accreditation bodies in maintaining high standards of safety, governance, and technical quality in diagnostic MRI services.

Terms of Reference: 

Purpose
This Working Group has been established to produce a position paper detailing the quality assurance testing requirements and minimum safety standards for clinical MRI operation in the diagnostic imaging environment.

Objectives
The primary principles of the MRI Safety Working Group are as follows:

  1. Safe Practice: To contribute to best practice safety standards in MRI at all stages of equipment and patient journey, including suite design, installation, training, patient screening and procedure development.
  2. Establishing Quality Assurance: To give specific guidance for quality assurance steps, allowing staff working in the MRI suite to have confidence in equipment performance. This will include phantoms, tests, frequency, and tolerances.
  3. Locally Relevant Guidance: To contextualise international standards on diagnostic MRI Safety and QA into advice tailored for the Australia and New Zealand diagnostic MRI environment.
  4. Education and Training: To assist those involved in MRI safety with developing education and training for MRI staff, healthcare staff, and other relevant personnel needing to enhance their understanding of MRI safety.

Scope of Activities
The Working Group will undertake activities including, but not limited to:

Quality Assurance in Diagnostic MRI
Development of guidance relating to:

  • Acceptance testing;
  • Routine quality assurance testing;
  • Performance monitoring and trending;
  • Image quality assessment;
  • Quantitative MRI and advanced imaging applications;
  • Artefact identification and mitigation;
  • Standardisation and harmonisation of QA practices;
  • Documentation and reporting requirements;
  • Risk-based QA methodologies;

Safety in Diagnostic MRI
Development of guidance relating to:

  • Static magnetic field safety;
  • Radiofrequency (RF) safety and SAR considerations;
  • Gradient magnetic field safety;
  • Projectile and implant safety;
  • MRI screening processes and zoning;
  • MRI safety governance frameworks;
  • Incident prevention and management;
  • Occupational and staff safety;
  • Safety considerations for special patient populations;
  • Emerging safety considerations associated with advanced MRI technologies and hybrid systems.

Members:

Membership
Membership of the Working Group includes representatives with expertise in: MRI safety; Clinical MRI operations; Biomedical engineering; Radiography; Radiology; MRI research and development; Hybrid MR systems; MR treatment planning; Quality systems, and governance.

The current membership is:

  • Chris Boyd (Chair)
  • Yves De Deene
  • Ioannis Delakis
  • James Korte
  • Shermiyah Rienecker
  • Ben Crouch
  • Michael Bernardo
  • Nick Cook (Safety only)
  • Donald McRobbie (Expert review)

Duration
The Working Group is established for the duration required to complete the development, consultation, review, and publication of the position papers.The Working Group may be extended or transitioned into an ongoing advisory or special interest group subject to Board approval and ongoing professional need.

Consultation and Endorsement
Draft position papers developed by the Working Group will undergo:

  • Internal peer review;
  • Stakeholder consultation;
  • Review by relevant Specialty Groups and governance bodies;
  • Formal endorsement processes as determined by the College.

Final publications will represent consensus recommendations intended to support best practice and professional guidance within the Australasian healthcare context.

Expressions of Interest
Members interested in contributing to the Quality Assurance and Safety in Diagnostic MRI Working Group are encouraged to contact the College office.

 

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