Patient Safety

Together we can prevent falls! Here are simple steps patients can take, along with the proactive measures our team provides, to create a safer environment. 

Efforts at UCSF Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging are underway to make MRI appointments safer, more predictable, and more comfortable for every patient. A new initiative led by UCSF's MR Safety Committee focuses on clear communication, thoughtful preparation, and consistent practices designed to improve the patient experience.

“Patient safety isn’t just a responsibility—it’s our culture,” says Patient Safety Officer Alpana Patel Camilli, BS, CRA, (R) (CT), manager of Interventional Radiology, Neuroendovascular Surgery and interim manager of Diagnostic Radiology.  “This Patient Safety Week we’re uniting to ensure every patient receives safe, high-quality care, beyond checklists and protocols.” 

“UCSF takes MRI Safety very seriously. It is a priority,” says MRI Safety Officer and MRI Supervisor Christina L. Calvin. This MRI Safety Week, July 21-27, Calvin spotlights the three most important things patients need to know.

UCSF Radiology & Biomedical Imaging strives to ensure patient safety in all our imaging modalities, and this includes providing patients with the highest level of MR safety. MR Safety is overseen by the MR Safety Committee, led by Michael Ohliger, MD, PhD, associate professor and MR Modality Director. Additional leaders contributing to our MR Safety focus are Michael Hoff, PhD, associate professor and MRI Safety Expert (MRSE) and Christina Calvin, MRI Safety Officer (MRSO) and Supervisor.

Patient Safety Awareness Week takes place from March 13 through 19, 2022. Hear from Cynthia Hammond, MBA, Qualty and Safety Officer at UCSF Health, Radiology. 

A recent collaborative retrospective cohort study from UC San Francisco, UC Davis and others confirmed that Down syndrome remains a strong risk factor for childhood leukemia, and associations with AML are stronger than previously reported.

MRI is an extremely safe procedure when performed by trained experts. As such, the team at UCSF Health's radiology department put together a few safety videos to remind patients and staff about the importance of MRI safety.

The use of medical imaging in the United States has increased a lot over the last two decades, and imaging rates during pregnancy have not been quantified in a large, multisite setting… until now.

Steven Hetts, MD, and a team from his lab, UC Berkeley and Carbon Inc. (3D printer) developed a drug sponge, that removes excess chemotherapy from the blood while treating tumors, preventing toxicity.