Training Procedures

All individuals who access the BIC will either be escorted or undergo specific MRI safety training. Categories of individuals are defined as follows: visitors, subjects, casual staff, level 1 certified users, level 2 certified users, and BIC staff.

1. Visitors. Visitors include individuals who are not being scanned but potentially may need to enter the control room or magnet room to act as: family member, maintenance, ancillary medical staff, cleaning service, fireman, etc. Visitors will always be escorted or visually supervised by a BIC staff member, researcher or operator, except when they are in areas D or E. Normally, visitors will not be allowed inside the magnet room unless their presence is needed for the performance of a protocol. (Example: In ADHD or autism studies, parents, once properly screened, may be allowed into the room with their children to reassure the child during preparation for the scanning and, if absolutely necessary, help keep them still during a scan.) Visitors who have need to enter the magnet room will be subject to a modified screening procedure similar to the one given to research participants. The screening forms and procedures used for visitors are provided by BIC staff, and are available on the BIC website.

2. Subjects. Subjects are individuals who participate in human research directly. They may enter the BIC for purposes of training or participation in an experiment. Except when in Areas D or E, subjects will always be escorted or personally supervised (visually and verbally) by a BIC staff member or researcher. Before participation as a subject, the individual must be briefed by a researcher and must provide informed consent using methods approved by an associated IRB-approved protocol. These briefings may take place in Areas C or D. First-time subjects will initially be allowed access only to Area C, where they will first be screened for MRI safety issues as described in Appendix B, and further briefed on MRI hazards and appropriate safety protocols during scanning sessions. Subjects will then make use of adjacent change rooms to store all non-MR safe personal belongings, and don scrubs if needed. Next, they will be escorted into the control room, part of Area B. Finally, the subject will be escorted into the magnet room (Area A) by a level 2 certified user, and prepared for the scan following standard safety protocols as specified by the associated IRB-approved protocol. Subjects will be visually monitored by the operator throughout the scanning session. Subjects will always be given a signaling device (a.k.a., “squeeze ball”) so that they can request that scanning be halted at any time. The operator will halt the scanner upon any unsolicited use of the squeeze ball by the subject. The operator must always permit audio contact with the subject between scans, and should periodically communicate verbally with the subject to assess their status and comfort.

3. Casual staff. Casual staff are individuals who require occasional access to BIC facilities for various functions such as maintenance and custodial support. These individuals include maintenance personnel, custodial personnel, ancillary medical personnel, fire, police, and EMS workers. They will always be initially briefed regarding MRI safety hazards, and told which areas of the BIC they can access. In general, there will be no access by casual staff to Areas A or B without escort or visual supervision by a level 2 certified user. Casual staff requiring access to Area A must be under escort by a level 2 certified user and will be further briefed and screened for MRI-related hazards in the same fashion as a subject.

4. Users. Users are individuals working in the BIC on projects approved by the BIC, and when in vivo studies are involved, by the University of Texas at Austin IRB or IACUC, as appropriate. All users performing any type of work using the MRI scanner are required to undergo level 1 certification. Level 1 certification is required for unescorted access to the BIC. All level 1 users must be supervised by a level 2 user or a BIC senior staff member in order to access Areas A & B. Level 2 users undergo additional training and certification that ensures their capacity to perform and oversee MRI research procedures, as well as to handle emergency situations. Level 2 certification designates users who have the capability to independently perform research safely and efficiently. Like subjects, users will not be permitted access into Area B until they have been briefed on and screened for MR-safety issues. Training materials are available on the BIC wiki: http://wiki.BIC.utexas.edu. In addition, videos for current safety procedures are regularly updated from qualified safety experts and professional websites including www.imrser.org

a. Level 1 training. Training for level 1 researchers includes the following: 1) viewing of the video on MR safety provided at https://BIC.utexas.edu/local/safetyvideo.html; 2) briefing by the Operations Administrator or other designated BIC staff member on MR-related hazards and protocols; 3) briefing on and demonstrated understanding of procedures to screen subjects for MRI procedures and administer IRB-approved consent forms; 4) briefing on and demonstrated understanding of emergency procedures, such as fire and handling medical emergencies; and 5) completing a quiz over the information provided in the briefing and demonstrations. Steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be renewed annually to maintain level 1 certification, unless if the user graduates to level 2 certification. However, level 2 certification becomes idle after more than six months without use of the facility pending level 1 recertification. Completion of these training steps must be documented using the BIC level 1 certification form.

b. Level 2 training. In order to qualify for level 2 status, a researcher must meet the following criteria: 1) They must be a current level 1 certified user.; 2) They must attend the BIC level 2 safety lecture given by the Operations Administrator.; 3)They must complete the BIC apprenticeship program.; 4) They must pass the BIC level 2 written safety exam.; 5) They must pass the BIC practical exam.; 6) They must pass the BIC mock up study walk-through. A level 2 user who goes more than 6 months without scanning will be required to attend the level 1 safety briefings (described in §IIE4a(2-4)). The programs described in steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 are detailed in Appendix A.

5. BIC Staff. BIC staff are staff members involved in research activities, including senior staff, image analysts, etc. Training requirements include all of the requirements for researchers, plus, attendance of the BIC building security briefing. Completion of research staff training will be documented using the same form as that used for researchers.