The following information was received from
NMED for the
Georgia Radioactive Materials Program:
This incident occurred on July 14 at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (GA 1340-1). The unnecessary study was an administration of 25.6 mCi of Tc-99m exametazime-labeled white blood cells (Ceretec WBC), for which the TEDE was about 9 mSv. The individual who received the unnecessary study only came to the hospital for the study and was not an inpatient or there for any other reason.
Georgia Incident Number: 45
- * * UPDATE FROM JOHN HAYS TO THOM HERRITY AT 1142 EDT ON 09/27/21 * * *
The following is a synopsis of the root cause conducted by the Piedmont Fayette Hospital:
The order for the study was received by the imaging center on June 2, 2021. However, the order date for the study was December 16, 2015. The reason for this discrepancy was due to a training mishap at the ordering doctor's office. Staff at the imaging center did not observe the date discrepancy between the fax date at the top of the page and the order date in smaller print elsewhere in the document. The individual receiving the dose had not seen the ordering physician since 2015. At the time the order was received, the individual receiving the dose was under the care of a different physician than the ordering physician and the individual receiving the dose assumed that the different physician had ordered the study.
The hospital Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) has concluded that, because the individual was not actually a patient, the exposure should be reclassified as an exposure to a member of the public, which has lower reporting limits than a misadministration. The TEDE was approximately 8.5 mSv (0.85 rem). No ill effects are anticipated from this exposure. The hospital has initiated re-training for staff to preclude similar confusion going forward.
Notified R1DO (SCHROEDER) and NMSS Events Notification group.
A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient.