MRI Safety in the Staffing Crisis Era
United States, 10th May 2025 - “We’re pushing more patients through MRI scanners than ever before—often with fewer people watching the door.”
That’s the quiet truth no one wants to admit. But in a recent episode of the Zone 3 Podcast, MRI safety authority Tobias Gilk stepped directly into that conversation, and what he shared is something every MRI professional should hear.
MRI Staffing Gaps Are No Longer a Hypothetical Concern
MRI technologists know the problem already: the Plus One rule exists, but rarely in practice. The ACR mandates a trained second person present for MRI procedures, yet economic pressures, facility design flaws, and sheer staffing shortages have made this increasingly difficult to uphold.
In Gilk’s words:
“We’ve seen a slow unraveling of MRI safety infrastructure—not because people don’t care, but because the systems haven’t evolved with the reality on the ground.”
The result? More solo techs. More locked doors. More isolation inside the room. And far fewer ways to respond if something goes wrong.
The “Silent Emergency” Inside MRI Suites
In the episode, Gilk references a particular solution that’s already changing how some facilities address this safety gap:
“They have these voice-activated systems—Sound Imaging’s Room Alert—that can be programmed to call out to whoever it needs to.”
This is not a sales pitch. It’s a wake-up call. MRI suites, by their very nature, are acoustically and electromagnetically sealed environments. When an emergency happens—whether it’s a patient coding, a ferromagnetic incident, or a tech going down—there is no easy way to call for help.
Voice-activated systems like MRI Room Alert are built precisely for that situation. No buttons. No metal. Just a shout for help—triggering pre-programmed alerts to the correct response chain. It’s simple. And in an emergency, simplicity saves lives.
What the Colombini Case Still Teaches Us
In the episode, Gilk revisits the Colombini tragedy—a 6-year-old killed by a flying oxygen cylinder in an MRI room in 2001. It became a landmark case, shaping much of the safety discourse for the past two decades.
But as Gilk points out, the real tragedy is that lessons from Colombini are still being ignored:
● There was no trained secondary staff present.
● The communication gap was fatal.
● The incident was entirely preventable.
Facilities today may be better equipped—but are they better connected? In a time when hospitals are cutting corners and MRI rooms often have no video, no alert system, and no hands-free emergency mechanism, we’re not far from 2001 in many places.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
MRI technology has advanced. Scan protocols have improved. But if a technologist collapses during a scan, or a patient begins to seize, and there’s no camera, no intercom, no alert system—what happens next?
Gilk’s suggestion wasn’t just a product mention. It was a call to the field:
“If you’re not physically able to maintain the Plus One presence, what are you doing instead? You’ve got to figure that out.”
Facilities must ask themselves:
● Do we have any way to respond if our tech calls for help?
● Does our layout allow for real-time visibility into the room?
● Are we relying on luck and hallway foot traffic in emergencies?
For too long, MRI safety has relied on vigilance alone. But even the best techs can’t yell through lead-lined walls. The time for modern alert systems isn’t next year—it’s overdue.
Conclusion: We Don’t Need Hype. We Need Tools.
MRI professionals are some of the most highly trained, under-supported clinical staff in imaging. They carry enormous responsibility—often alone, in rooms no one else can enter, while managing unpredictable patients and unpredictable equipment. That’s not a job that should come without backup.
Gilk’s episode wasn’t fearmongering. It was a moment of candor. A reminder that even the best policies mean nothing without real-world tools.
The Sound Imaging MRI Room Alert, mentioned by Gilk, is one of the few technologies stepping into that space—not with complexity, but with clarity. And whether it's that system or another, the key message is this:
MRI safety doesn’t need new guidelines. It needs new habits. And that starts with having a way to call for help.
Want to see how Room Alert works?
https://soundimaging.com/mri-room-alert-system
Listen to the full podcast episode here:
Zone 3 Podcast - Episode Link
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