Training activity information
Details
Perform, analyse and report a range of quality control/assurance tests to assess MR scanner performance and make recommendations for faults identified
Type
Entrustable training activity (ETA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion.
Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.
Considerations
- System operation
- Scanner hardware, areas of potential failure and their impact on image quality
- Local/national/international quality standards and recommendations relating to imaging equipment
- Manufacturer proprietary testing methods
- Choice of appropriate test objects and imaging parameters
- Value of the tests in detecting possible hardware faults
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Identify what is expected of you when performing, analysing, and reporting MR scanner quality control/assurance tests.
- What are the specific parameters or benchmarks for acceptable performance of the MR scanner? What level of detail is expected in your analysis and report?
- Consider how you will know if the tests were performed correctly, the analysis was accurate, and the report is comprehensive, including appropriate recommendations for any identified faults.
- Think about what you already know about conducting, interpreting, or reporting quality control/assurance tests for MR scanners. Have you observed or participated in any part of this process before?
- Consider possible challenges you might face during the testing, analysis, or reporting of MR scanner performance. This could include encountering unexpected test results, equipment malfunction, difficulty in data interpretation, or formulating clear and actionable recommendations. How might you proactively think about handling these potential challenges?
- Recognise the scope of your own practice for assessing MR scanner performance and making recommendations. When will you need to seek advice or help, and from whom (e.g., a senior colleague, an engineer, or a physicist)?
- Acknowledge how you feel about embarking on this specific training activity, particularly concerning the intricacies of MR scanner performance assessment and fault identification.
- Consider the specific skills you want to develop by performing, analysing, and reporting these MR quality control tests. This could include skills related to test execution, precise data analysis, effective report writing, problem-solving in a clinical environment, or the formulation of concise recommendations.
- Identify the specific insights you hope to gain from engaging with this activity. For example, do you hope to understand common MR scanner faults better, the impact of various parameters on image quality, or the overall process of maintaining quality assurance in an MRI environment?
- Consult actions identified following previous experience of MR quality assurance or similar activities. Are there any lessons learned or improvements you noted from past experiences that you can apply here?
- Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on the activity. This might include specific departmental protocols, safety guidelines for the MRI suite, or any known history or current issues with the particular MR scanner you will be assessing.
In action
- Make a note of anything that feels surprising or different from what you anticipate while performing the MR quality control/assurance tests, during the analysis of the results, or when attempting to formulate recommendations for identified faults.
- Does a test parameter behave unexpectedly? Does an analysis result seem inconsistent with your initial thoughts? Does a fault appear that you haven’t encountered before?
- Consider how this experience compares with previous experiences of similar activities related to MR performance assessment or even other complex equipment troubleshooting. Is this MR scanner behaving in a way you’ve seen before, or is it entirely novel?
- Identify how this impacts upon your actions. For instance, do you respond to the situation appropriately by pausing a test to consult documentation, immediately re-running a specific scan, or re-evaluating your analysis approach when an unexpected fault presents itself?
- Do you adapt or change your approach to the MR QA process? Perhaps you adjust your testing sequence, modify your data interpretation strategy, or seek immediate clarification on a specific recommendation.
- Does it affect your ability to undertake the activity independently? Do you find yourself needing to seek immediate verbal advice or support from a senior colleague or your Training Officer during the activity itself?
- Do you feel confident in your ability to adjust to the unexpected MR scanner behaviour or analysis challenge? Or does it affect your confidence in dealing with the intricacies of MR scanner performance assessment? Do you feel positive that you can still reach a successful conclusion?
- Identify how you work within your scope of practice when an unexpected issue arises during the MR QA process. Do you correctly identify when an issue is beyond your immediate capability and requires escalation or further consultation in real-time?
- Identify what you learn as a result of the unexpected development regarding MR scanner performance, analysis, or fault identification.
On action
- Summarise the key points of your experience performing, analysing, and reporting on the MR quality control/assurance tests and making recommendations for identified faults.
- Was there a specific test result that was challenging to interpret, or a fault that required significant thought to recommend a solution?
- Identify what learning you can take from this experience regarding MR scanner performance assessment. What strengths did you demonstrate in performing, analysing, or reporting the tests?
- What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident, particularly concerning specific MR quality control parameters or fault diagnosis?
- Were any previously identified actions for development regarding MR QA achieved? Has your practice in this area improved?
- Identify any challenges you experienced during the MR scanner performance assessment, and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation, and were you able to overcome the challenges? For instance, if you faced difficulty interpreting a complex data set or recommending a solution for an unusual fault.
- Did you need to seek advice or clarification from a senior colleague or your Training Officer during or immediately after the activity? Or did you need to escalate an issue to ensure that you were working within your scope of practice when dealing with a particular MR fault?
- Do you feel more confident or less confident in your ability to assess MR scanner performance
- What will you do differently next time you perform, analyse, and report on MR quality control/assurance tests or make recommendations for faults?
- Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again?
- Do you need to practise any specific aspect of MR scanner performance assessment further, such as interpreting particular test results or diagnosing specific types of faults?
Beyond action
- Have you reviewed your actions from your previous reflections for this activity?
- What specific actions did you identify you would need to take to improve your practice in performing, analysing, and reporting MR quality control/assurance tests, or in making recommendations for faults?
- Have you completed these identified actions? For example, did you spend additional time understanding the interpretation of a challenging MR QA parameter, or researching common fault-finding methodologies for MR scanners?
- Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning into practice? How would you approach a similar MR scanner performance assessment differently now, armed with this new knowledge or skill?
- Did discussing specific challenges in fault identification or reporting with others change your view of the situation or provide new insights? How did the mutual exchange of experiences contribute to your understanding?
- Consider how the learning from consistently performing and reflecting on MR scanner QA has supported you in preparing for the observed ‘in-person’ assessments for the module.
- Consider how your practice in MR scanner performance assessment has developed and evolved over time. Reflect on your journey from your earliest experiences with this task to your current level of proficiency. Have you noticed patterns in your ability to diagnose faults or interpret complex data sets?
- Recognise when something is beyond your scope of practice in MR scanner performance assessment.
- Are you now better at identifying when a fault requires escalation to a more senior colleague or specialist engineer, rather than attempting to resolve it yourself?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Perform and report on the basic performance of MRI and ultrasound scanners. |