Safety Concerns Raised After Nurse Injured in MRI Accident at California Medical Center
A medical center in California is facing safety concerns after a nurse was recently involved in a freak accident with an MRI machine, according to an investigation by KTVU. The nurse, Ainah Cervantes, sustained “crushing injuries” when the magnetic force of the MRI machine pulled a hospital bed towards it unexpectedly. The incident occurred at a medical center in Redwood City operated by California-based Kaiser Permanente.
Cervantes, who was attending to a patient on the bed at the time, found herself sandwiched between the front of the machine and the bed. She reported that she was being pushed by the bed and had to run to avoid being crushed underneath. Cervantes suffered a severe laceration that required surgery, including the removal of two embedded screws.
An investigation conducted by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) revealed several missteps leading up to the incident. There were no MRI personnel present in the room, no one, including the patient, was screened, and the room’s door was left open. The safety alarm system also failed to sound. The probe concluded that the medical center had “failed to provide radiologic services in a safe manner.”
The incident also highlighted several breaches of Kaiser’s MRI safety policies. Some employees had not received the required safety training, and the door alarm had not been tested annually as recommended. The California Department of Public Health’s investigation described the situation as a “culture of unsafe practices.”
Senior Vice President for Kaiser Permanente San Mateo, Sheila Gilson, stated that the organization responded quickly and provided necessary care and support to those involved. She emphasized the need for understanding the cause of the accident and implementing changes to prevent such incidents in the future.
Sources from KTVU allege that this incident was not the only one at the Redwood City hospital. A photo provided to the station showed a medical equipment cart stuck to an MRI scanner. Kaiser Permanente clarified that the photo was likely from a previous incident in 2015 where no patients or employees were injured.
Kaiser Permanente is now facing an $18,000 fine from Cal/OSHA for the alleged missteps and the workplace injury accident. Experts warn that MRI accidents can happen when safety protocols are not followed, and incidents are likely underreported.
By Michael Dorgan | Fox News
