Key components of a successful PET/MR department

Background: Simultaneous PET/MR is still fairly new. As such, unique departmental challenges arise. Nuclear Medicine (NM) and MRI teams need to work together to create new workflows, protocols and management systems. Communication across PET/MR sites is limited, leaving departments to work through challenges by costly trial and error. The goal of this research is to survey 12 departments and highlight challenges faced and how to successfully overcome them. This can then act as a valuable resource for new or existing departments that are struggling to navigate this newer modality. Methods: A survey of 19 questions was sent to managing PET/MR technologists across 12 institutions. Responses were reviewed and similarities highlighted. Results: Survey responses are shown in Figure 1. 5 departments have dual certified PET/MR technologists, 7 utilize PET technologists for injections and image reconstruction and MR technologists to conduct imaging. 4 sites offer concurrent MRI training to PET technologists. Of note, 6 departments have both a PET and an MR technologist lead manager working together to manage the department. All but 2 departments report a key advocate to help oversee the department and educate referring physicians and research teams. All sites offer MRI safety training to NM staff and radiation safety training to MRI staff. Struggles with cross training include maintaining current training and emphasizing the importance of safety training. About half the scans are dual PET/MR as opposed to MR only. 63% are clinical rather than research. Scan times average just over an hour and 3-4 scans are completed in a day. Technologists reported 4 key commonalities of a successful department. 1. A strong department advocate 2. Open communication between staff and supporting NM and MRI departments 3. Teamwork 4. Support and communication across sites Conclusion: A review of survey responses demonstrates the necessity for each of the 4 key components of a successful department. A strong department advocate supports the PET/MR department role model for the team and generates physician buy-in. This leads to referrals for the PET/MR and rallies NM and Radiology staff to communicate as a team. Departments with physician and manager advocates were especially excited and proud to discuss their department. Open communication proved vital. It is uncommon for PET technologists to receive training and certification in MRI so many departments require separate PET and MR technologists to operate the system together. Additionally, the most successful management teams comprise of 2 lead technologists, 1 from NM and 1 from Radiology. Without each, the unique protocol and workflow needs are not fully understood or supported. Teamwork is especially important since it takes more staff to manage and operate a PET/MR system. Finally, almost every participating department reported a perceived benefit of open communication and unity across all PET/MR sites. The need to continue to build and strengthen this community with collaborative meetings and workshops is likely beneficial to the success of new PET/MR departments. The sites reporting all 4 key components of success demonstrated a notable sense of excitement for the modality.

• Download figure
• Open in new tab
• Download powerpoint