Opportunities for Error in Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine
| Procedure stage | Opportunities for error | Staff involved |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | Single vs. multiple-day therapies; radioisotope availability | Scheduler/referring physician/nuclear medicine physician |
| Screening | Therapy appropriateness, medication interference, pregnancy/breastfeeding | Referring physician/nuclear medicine physician/physicist |
| Consult | Pretreatment history, laboratory and other diagnostic testing results, patient factors (e.g., breastfeeding, incontinence, inability to swallow), and home environment | Patient/family/nuclear medicine physician |
| Patient preparation | Preparation length (e.g., few days to weeks), medications (prescribed and over counter), NPO status, hydration, oral contrast agent (barium), intravenous contrast agent (iodinate) | Scheduler/technologist/nurse/nuclear medicine physician |
| Time-out/radioisotope administration | Correct patient, therapy, radioisotope, amount, route, and timing; complete dose administration | Technologist/authorized user/nuclear medicine physician |
| Posttherapy | Imaging and timing, medical and radiation safety instructions | Technologist/nuclear medicine physician |
NPO = nothing by mouth.