Risk management

Risk Management can be described as the systematic identification, assessment, prioritisation and reduction of risk to patients, staff and members of the public.

Echotech operates a wide ranging risk management function, covering both clinical and non clinical risk. These include patient safety procedures and infection control.

Echotech staff must be informed of all patients known to have infectious conditions.

The management of infectious patients must be discussed with the NHS site Infection Control Officer in advance of scanning. Patients with infectious conditions will be assessed on an individual basis.

Other Key Risks include:

• Echotech unable to deliver service due to shortage of suitably qualified and experienced staff
• Echotech fail to provide service due to equipment constraints
• Poor quality of service / misdiagnosis
• Inappropriate referrals

We operate a robust quality control system based on strict adherence to the clinical governance framework. The QA process includes the weekly audit (review of study images) of >30% of all scans.

Our robust QA process minimises reporting errors.

Our strict adherence to our referral / reporting guidelines minimises inappropriate referrals and promotes both the quality and consistency of all Echotech reports.

Our guidelines also clearly state those patients that require onward Cardiologist referral.

Echotech operates a complete 'echo unit' on standby at all times.

Following an adverse incident, the Echotech staff member will fill out an incident report form.