If a technologist exposes a radiograph with the wrong patient name, what is the proper corrective action?

If a technologist exposes a radiograph with the wrong patient name, what is the proper corrective action?

• A. Annotate the image with the correct patient name
• B. Move the radiograph to the correct patient and correct requisition
• C. Repeat the exposure under the correct patient name
• D. No action is needed

Answer: (B)

Accurate patient identification and proper image management are essential for patient safety and record accuracy. When a radiograph is created with the wrong patient name, the proper corrective action is to move the radiograph to the correct patient and correct requisition. This fixes both the image’s association with the patient and the study order, ensuring the right records reflect the right exam and preventing misdiagnosis, billing errors, or misfiled results. Simply annotating the image with the correct name does not fix the underlying misassociation and can perpetuate error in the patient’s chart. Repeating the exposure under the correct patient name exposes the patient to unnecessary radiation and does not address the labeling problem on the original image. After relocating the image, verify alignment with the patient’s identifiers and update the requisition to match, then document the change in the medical record.

Accurate patient identification and proper image management are essential for patient safety and record accuracy. When a radiograph is created with the wrong patient name, the proper corrective action is to move the radiograph to the correct patient and correct requisition. This fixes both the image’s association with the patient and the study order, ensuring the right records reflect the right exam and preventing misdiagnosis, billing errors, or misfiled results. Simply annotating the image with the correct name does not fix the underlying misassociation and can perpetuate error in the patient’s chart. Repeating the exposure under the correct patient name exposes the patient to unnecessary radiation and does not address the labeling problem on the original image. After relocating the image, verify alignment with the patient’s identifiers and update the requisition to match, then document the change in the medical record.