If you notice a technical failure during a radiologic exam, stop the procedure and report it to your supervisor

Let me set a scene few radiologic technologists forget: you’re in the middle of a scan, the patient is comfortable, the room is quiet except for the hum of the machine, and then a fault indicator lights up or the image looks odd. The moment feels charged—do you push through, or do you pause and pause honestly? Here’s the thing to remember: when you notice a technical failure during imaging, the right move is to stop the procedure and report the issue to your supervisor. This isn't about slowing you down; it's about safety, accuracy, and the integrity of the imaging process.

Stop the Scan, Not the Patient: Why pausing is essential

If a piece of radiologic equipment isn’t behaving, continuing could hide a real risk. A faulty image can lead to a misdiagnosis, a need to repeat the study (which means extra radiation for the patient), or even a hazardous exposure if the malfunction affects shielding or dose. In other words, the machine isn’t just “a tool”—it’s part of a chain that protects the patient and preserves data quality. Stopping the procedure signals that something isn’t right and that it must be handled with a careful, methodical approach.

That moment of pause might feel awkward, especially on a busy day. You’re juggling patient comfort, positioning, and workflow like a tightrope walker. Yet stopping is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of responsibility. It buys time to assess, communicate, and involve the right people who can evaluate the fault and keep everyone safe. So yes, the patient stays protected, and the imaging chain stays intact.

What makes this important, exactly? Safety for all, and accuracy you can trust

• Patient safety comes first. A fault could mean an exposure miscalculation or incorrect shielding, both of which put the patient at unnecessary risk. halting allows you to verify that the current setup won’t cause harm before proceeding.

• Data integrity matters. Radiographic images are part of a patient’s medical record. A faulty image could lead to a misinterpretation, or worse, a misdirected treatment plan. Stopping gives the team a chance to confirm that the data you’re collecting is reliable.

• Professional standards demand it. In hospitals and clinics, there are clear lines of responsibility for equipment with issues. Report, document, and involve the right supervisor—the authority who can review the fault, call for maintenance, and determine the best path forward.

How to handle the moment: a practical, no-nonsense checklist

Let’s map out what you should actually do in real time. It’s not about being dramatic; it’s about being deliberate.

1. Pause immediately

• Stop the current action as soon as you notice the issue. Do not continue to “adjust settings later” without first confirming the problem is understood and safe to address.

• Keep the patient safe and comfortable. If they’re mid-position, ensure they’re secured and protected from any stray radiation or motion.

2. Acknowledge the issue to the patient and the team

• Briefly explain what’s happening in simple terms. A calm, honest note helps reduce anxiety and keeps everyone on the same page.

• If a colleague is nearby, flag the problem so they’re aware and can help with the next steps.

3. Assess immediate risks

• Check for any obvious safety concerns: is there a risk of overheating, a shield moving unexpectedly, or a door left ajar? If there’s a risk, address it promptly within your scope—without trying to fix the machine yourself.

• If the patient needs to be repositioned for safety reasons, do so with care. If the exam cannot be completed without risking safety, plan alternatives.

4. Notify the right person

• Contact your supervisor, lead technologist, or the on-duty radiology manager. They’re the ones empowered to escalate to maintenance, service, or higher-level decision-making.

• If you’re in a hospital setting with a formal incident path, follow the established protocol for equipment faults. That usually means logging the occurrence with a brief description of what happened and the time it occurred.

5. Tag and isolate the equipment

• Make sure the device is marked as out of service or “do not use” until a qualified technician can evaluate it. This reduces the chance someone else will try to proceed with a faulty system.

• If your facility uses a lockout/tagout style routine, apply the appropriate tag and notify the team that the equipment is not to be used.

6. Document everything

• Jot down what you observed: the exact time, the modality, the patient details, any error messages, and the steps you took.

• Note who you notified and what the supervisor advised. Documentation is a safety net that helps with QA and future improvements.

7. Consider patient-centered follow-up

• If the exam is urgent and cannot be completed in the moment, discuss alternatives with the supervisor. This could mean rescheduling the study, using a different modality, or prioritizing another study that doesn’t rely on the faulty equipment.

• Communicate clearly with the patient about next steps and the plan for safe imaging in the near future.

What happens after you report: the role of the supervisor and the QA loop

Once you’ve flagged the issue, the supervising technologist or radiology manager coordinates further action. They’ll determine whether the fault requires a service call, if a routine maintenance check is enough, or if a replacement component is needed. In many facilities, incidents involving equipment faults are logged for QA, and the data helps identify recurring problems or patterns that require system-wide fixes.

Documentation matters here, too. The incident record isn’t a blame game; it’s a learning tool. It’s how teams tighten safety nets, improve calibration schedules, and refine the way exams are scheduled or delivered. You’ll often see a simple post-incident review that asks: What happened? Was there anything we missed in the moment? Could the fault have been prevented with a more frequent QA check or a different startup sequence?

A culture that protects patients and staff alike

What you’re witnessing in these moments is a culture of safety. It’s not about playing it safe to the point of paralysis; it’s about making a deliberate choice that protects people and data. A robust safety culture means clear protocols, open communication, and a willingness to pause when the situation demands it. And yes, it also means trust: trust that the supervisor and the maintenance team will handle the technical side, so you can focus on positioning, patient care, and delivering high-quality images.

A quick detour: QA, safety, and the real-world rhythm of a radiology department

While we’re on the subject, a lot of this comes back to everyday routines you’ll see in clinics and hospitals. Regular quality assurance checks, equipment calibration, and preventive maintenance aren’t glamorous, but they’re the backbone of reliable imaging. The moment a fault crops up, thorough documentation and prompt reporting flow into that bigger rhythm. It’s like keeping a car in tune; you hear the squeak, you take it to the mechanic, and you keep driving with confidence once it’s fixed.

The human side: students and professionals in the room

Even though you might still be studying, you’re already carrying a professional standard. The right reaction when a technical hiccup occurs isn’t a dramatic rush to fix something you’re not trained to repair. It’s the quiet, disciplined act of stopping, informing the right person, and safeguarding the patient. That choice shows you’re paying attention, you value accuracy, and you’re committed to doing things the right way.

A few practical phrases that help in the moment

• “We need to pause the study for safety.”

• “I’m notifying the supervisor about a equipment fault.”

• “I will tag the equipment as out of service and document the issue.”

• “We’ll review the best next steps with maintenance and scheduling.”

Those lines aren’t just rote words; they’re how you maintain calm and clarity in a tense moment. They set the tone for everyone in the room and keep action aligned with safety and quality.

In a nutshell

When a technical failure interrupts an imaging session, the correct action is straightforward but powerful: stop the procedure and report the issue to the supervisor. This approach protects patients, preserves the integrity of the imaging data, and keeps the workflow honest and safe. It also helps the team identify root causes, ensure timely maintenance, and minimize unnecessary radiation exposure through avoided repeats.

If you’re ever in that situation, remember: you’re not abandoning the patient or the exam—you’re guarding them. You’re also upholding the standards that define the profession. That choice—practical, responsible, professional—sends a signal that safety isn’t optional. It’s the baseline.

So next time you’re in the control room and something seems off, take a breath, pause, and do what’s right: stop, report, and move forward with the team that keeps imaging accurate and safe for every patient who sits in that chair.