We read with great interest the editorial article by Soyer and Patlas, 1 in which the reporting of adverse events (AEs) in radiology is discussed and highlighted as a fundamental practice that goes beyond meeting a legal requirement for open disclosure, as it provides institutions and physicians with data with the potential to prevent such incidents from occurring again, making radiological processes safer, and elevating patient care. This is a riveting proposition because it acknowledges that medical errors, however unavoidable, also constitute a valuable opportunity for continuous improvement.We concur that the practice of radiology can often include complex and highly volatile interactions leading to circumstances where AEs may take place, especially in emergency interventional radiology (IR) procedures, where pivotal decisions must be made, and sometimes rapidly modified, according to the patient's evolving condition. It is precisely in this setting that errors must be most vigilantly identified and noted, as it is also in this context that their impact on patient outcome could also be the most significant. Most AEs in IR occur due to lack of planning, understaffing, communication barriers, and equipment dysfunction. 2 The authors mention that over 80% of AEs in radiology are either preventable or probably preventable. Consequently, multiple radiology departments have strived to be consistent with the American College of Radiologists (ACR)'s Imaging 3.0 focus on quality and safety initiative, by utilizing hybrid computer-based AEs reporting systems, in which these are entered by the physician or other IR staff, minimizing underreporting. 3 To that end, at our institution, a no-blame policy has been established for AEs reporting, which has been crucial in the process of creating a culture that recognizes this exercise as a learning tool to detect the underlying cause of errors and modify procedures accordingly. Finally, radiology departments should prioritize building a non-punitive and collaborative environment around AEs reporting that regards this practice as a key element for the growth of the staff, the specialty, and the safety of patients.
