With increasing deployment, complexity, and sophistication of equipment and related processes within the clinical imaging environment, system failures are more likely to occur. These failures may have varying effects on the patient, ranging from no harm to devastating harm. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a tool that permits the proactive identification of possible failures in complex processes and provides a basis for continuous improvement. This overview of the basic principles and methodology of FMEA provides an explanation of how FMEA can be applied to clinical operations in a radiology department to reduce, predict, or prevent errors. The six sequential steps in the FMEA process are explained, and clinical magnetic resonance imaging services are used as an example for which FMEA is particularly applicable. A modified version of traditional FMEA called Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, which was introduced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Patient Safety, is briefly reviewed. In conclusion, FMEA is an effective and reliable method to proactively examine complex processes in the radiology department. FMEA can be used to highlight the high-risk subprocesses and allows these to be targeted to minimize the future occurrence of failures, thus improving patient safety and streamlining the efficiency of the radiology department.

Non-value-added time represents approximately one-third of the total MRI process cycle and patient length of stay. Identifying specific delays may expedite the application of targeted improvement strategies, potentially increasing revenue, efficiency, and overall patient satisfaction.

A secure online QA reporting system promotes reporting of QA events and serves as a database for identifying and managing trends, initiating performance improvement projects, and providing feedback to staff members who submit cases.

Focused process improvements in selecting MRI protocols and scheduling examinations significantly increased throughput in the MRI division, thereby increasing capacity and revenue. Shorter scan and department times may also improve patient experience.

Survey kiosks led to a higher response rate than online surveys. The completion rate can be further improved by placing kiosks next to elevators. Cleanliness, wait time, patient-staff communication, and especially courtesy of the receptionist were found to be important factors for patient satisfaction.