Event Notification Report for April 08, 2022
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
04/07/2022 - 04/08/2022
EVENT NUMBERS
55847
55847
Agreement State
Event Number: 55847
Rep Org: California Radiation Control Prgm
Licensee: SF Medical Center
Region: 4
City: San Francisco State: CA
County:
License #: 1725-38
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: K. Arunika Hewadikaram
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Licensee: SF Medical Center
Region: 4
City: San Francisco State: CA
County:
License #: 1725-38
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: K. Arunika Hewadikaram
HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity
Notification Date: 04/15/2022
Notification Time: 18:58 [ET]
Event Date: 04/08/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/15/2022
Notification Time: 18:58 [ET]
Event Date: 04/08/2022
Event Time: 00:00 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 04/15/2022
Emergency Class: Non Emergency
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
10 CFR Section:
Agreement State
Person (Organization):
Azua, Ray (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
Azua, Ray (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION (EMAIL)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - UNDERDOSE TO PATIENT
The following was received from the state of California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) via email:
"On 4/14/22, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) contacted RHB to report a Medical Event associated with a High Dose Rate (HDR) unit.
"Licensee's written notification on 4/15/22, stated the following:
"Sometime on Friday, April 8th [2022], an HDR therapist replaced a source transfer tube/catheter with a longer length transfer tube/catheter than intended for the three HDR treatments planned for that day. The difference in lengths was 123 mm. Since the treatment plan was with a shorter transfer tube/catheter, the source didn't make it all the way to the treatment locations and resulted in underdosing the three patients on that day, and likely delivering unplanned doses to non-treatment sites for the three patients. The error was discovered on Wednesday, April 13th, as another HDR therapist was getting ready for an HDR treatment. No HDR treatments had occurred since Friday, April 8. The first therapist wasn't certain if she changed the transfer tube/catheter in the morning or after the patients, but she thinks she likely changed it in the morning. The licensee is still evaluating the delivered doses to the patients treated on that Friday, but at least two of them are believed to have received an underdose that is reportable. The doses to non-treatment sites have not been fully evaluated. All three patients and their referring physicians were notified on Thursday, April 14th.
"RHB is continuing to follow up with the investigation."
California Event Number: 041422
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.
The following was received from the state of California Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) via email:
"On 4/14/22, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) contacted RHB to report a Medical Event associated with a High Dose Rate (HDR) unit.
"Licensee's written notification on 4/15/22, stated the following:
"Sometime on Friday, April 8th [2022], an HDR therapist replaced a source transfer tube/catheter with a longer length transfer tube/catheter than intended for the three HDR treatments planned for that day. The difference in lengths was 123 mm. Since the treatment plan was with a shorter transfer tube/catheter, the source didn't make it all the way to the treatment locations and resulted in underdosing the three patients on that day, and likely delivering unplanned doses to non-treatment sites for the three patients. The error was discovered on Wednesday, April 13th, as another HDR therapist was getting ready for an HDR treatment. No HDR treatments had occurred since Friday, April 8. The first therapist wasn't certain if she changed the transfer tube/catheter in the morning or after the patients, but she thinks she likely changed it in the morning. The licensee is still evaluating the delivered doses to the patients treated on that Friday, but at least two of them are believed to have received an underdose that is reportable. The doses to non-treatment sites have not been fully evaluated. All three patients and their referring physicians were notified on Thursday, April 14th.
"RHB is continuing to follow up with the investigation."
California Event Number: 041422
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.