Her attention to detail saved this patient from a very unsafe situation

Lynne Wells, an MRI technologist at Bronson Methodist Hospital, has been part of Team Bronson for more than 19 years. This fall, she was honored as our Quarterly Safety Hero for her exceptional attention to detail. Thanks to her deep knowledge of MRI safety and her commitment to following every step of the screening process, she identified a potentially dangerous situation before it could put her patient at risk.

What Happened?

Because an MRI uses a powerful magnet, certain implants and medical devices can be extremely dangerous if they go into the scanner. To keep patients safe, the MRI team screens everyone both verbally and with a metal detector before their exam.

During one of her screenings, Lynne asked a patient whether they had any implants or devices. The patient confidently said 'no.' When Lynne used the metal detector as the second line of screening, it activated near the patient’s chest. The patient continued to insist they had nothing implanted. Typically, if a patient seems confused or unsure, the team will question their responses. But when someone is clear and certain, as this patient was, staff are trained to trust that information.

Still, something didn’t sit right in this situation. Lynne noticed a small scar peeking out from the patient’s scrub top and decided to take an extra step. She sent the patient for an X-ray to confirm her concern — and it’s a good thing she did. The X-ray revealed abandoned pacemaker leads, which are completely unsafe for MRI.

Thanks to Lynne’s attention to detail, careful approach and proper use of the metal detector, she prevented a potentially dangerous situation and kept the patient safe.

About the Bronson Safety Hero Award

The Bronson Safety Hero Award recognizes team members who “Speak Up Today to Prevent Harm Tomorrow.” The award is given quarterly to team member who spoke up to prevent harm, or who was a key contributor to resolving or improving a process that promotes positive patient outcomes. The quarterly winners are voted on annually by Bronson team members to determine the Bronson Safety Hero of the Year.