"Hit The Road": How to Improve Safety During Patient Transportation in the Radiology Workplace

Purpose: The Radiology department is one of the places in the hospital where intrahospital transportation of patients most commonly occurs. During transportation, it is vital that all members work as a team and are well educated on how to ensure patient safety and not to cause additional injury to the patient.
This project aims to educate the members involved in the patient transportation in the radiology department and to standardize the transportation process by developing and implementing a checklist.

Methods/Materials: Transporting patients to radiology and within the radiology department is a risky procedure, especially when patients are critically ill. Transporting patients requires adequate knowledge, skills, communication among workers and use of appropriate equipment when necessary to prevent adverse events. We discuss the challenges and knowledge to provide safe transport.

Results: Radiology department staff should be educated in spinal immobilization techniques such as the log-roll technique, 6-plus person lift technique, and straddle lift-and-slide technique. The department should provide annual education to ensure that staff are comfortable performing each technique. We developed a checklist using a mnemonic SAFE. “S” stands for spine (spinal immobilization for patients with probable spinal cord injury), stabilize and secure (procedure, surgical, and injury sites). “A” stands for airway and access (checking airway and associated devices, checking intravenous access and securing the lines and tubes). “F” stands for floor and fixation (removing fluids or objects on the floor to prevent falls, confirm fixation of the bed). “E” stands for evaluate exit, to prevent unexpected delay when transferring out the patient.

Conclusions: Educating radiology department staff annually for spinal immobilization techniques and implementing standardized checklist (SAFE) will enhance patient safety and efficiency during intrahospital transportation of patients in the radiology workplace.