During a routine MRI scan at a SimonMed Imaging Center in Avondale, an Arizona inmate was involved in a concerning incident that left both him and a prison guard stuck to the machine. According to prison records, the incident occurred due to an error made by a SimonMed technician.
According to Tawny Sonn, the sister of the inmate, her sibling is experiencing intense pain and is plagued by flashbacks of the incident.
In May 2022, an incident occurred, and according to the ABC15 Investigators, the state regulators were unable to investigate or take enforcement action. This was because the SimonMed location and others were exempted from being licensed or regulated by the state health department.
Sonn expressed his strong disapproval by stating that he finds it terrible, and he further added that he does not comprehend the situation at all.
As per an incident report from the Department of Correction, during a medical procedure on inmate Lacey Windust, a SimonMed technician instructed the prison guard to not take off the metal shackles around her waist. This resulted in Windust getting stuck to the machine.
As we all know, metal and MRI’s are not compatible with each other due to the machine’s magnetic properties. In essence, an MRI machine is a massive magnet that can cause interference or harm if any metal objects are present.
According to a letter written by Windust to her sister while she was in prison, she had approached the machine from a distance of about three to four feet. As she got closer, the magnetic force was so strong that it lifted her off her feet and threw her into the machine’s circular hole.
According to the prison guard’s report, the SimonMed technician requested his assistance in aiding Lacey. The guard also mentioned that he was unable to move due to his gun being stuck to the MRI machine.
According to Tobias Gilk, an expert in MRI safety who has reviewed the records related to this incident, there are two individuals who have been injured and trapped due to inadequate screening and control of access to the area.
According to the prison incident reports, there were several minutes of delay before anyone pressed the emergency shutoff button, despite both Windust and the guard pleading for it to be activated.
As per the incident report acquired by ABC15, SimonMed’s employees were waiting for the lead engineer’s arrival, who had instructed them to hold off until he reached the site.
Sonn expressed that she believes both SimonMed and the prison should take responsibility for what occurred.
According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, the incident did occur, but they placed the fault on SimonMed. In their statement, they stated that the staff at the imaging lab made errors, which caused the secondary medical situation and resulting injuries.
According to Gilk, the recent incident was nothing short of a disaster. He stated that it was a significant failure, and it appeared that the proper procedures were not followed. Gilk’s observation implies that the situation could have been avoided if the necessary measures were taken.
According to Gilk, it is crucial to follow the best practices for MRI imaging, which involves screening patients for any metal before they enter the MRI room.
According to prison records, it was noted that Windust’s leg shackles were removed by the guard. The guard then asked the SimonMed technician if the metal belly shackles needed to be removed as well, to which the technician responded that they were not necessary to remove.
According to Gilk, one of the major issues in the field of MRI is the lack of regulations and standards when it comes to determining the minimum level of training required for MRI providers. This lack of guidelines can pose a serious challenge for patients as well as healthcare professionals.
According to records, SimonMed, which happens to be one of the biggest imaging centers across the United States, is enjoying a lenient regulatory environment in Arizona. Even though the Arizona Department of Health Services is responsible for regulating and licensing imaging centers, it appears that SimonMed is operating under different regulatory rules compared to its peers.
According to Gilk, the regulation of MRI safety is currently in a state of chaos, likened to the wild, wild west.
With over 60 imaging centers spread across the state, SimonMed’s license could not be found on the health department’s website upon conducting a search.
Gilk inquired, “Who regulates them?”
According to the Arizona Department of Health, SimonMed in Avondale, where Windust was trapped to the MRI machine, was exempt from regulation by ADHS due to an exemption granted to the company.
ADHS has released a statement clarifying that they cannot investigate or take any enforcement action concerning the alleged incident as the facility in question was not under their regulatory authority at the time. The statement was issued in writing to address the matter.
According to ABC15’s investigation, there are several outpatient treatment centers licensed by the state health department, including almost twenty-four Banner Imaging locations.
ABC15 reached out to the communication team of the state health department to inquire about the details of SimonMed’s exemption eligibility and the date it was granted. However, they declined to provide any information on the matter.
Upon being contacted by ABC15 Investigators, a representative from the licensing department claimed that SimonMed had a private provider exemption due to its ownership by physicians. However, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ website, private providers are only exempt from licensing if they are owned and operated by doctors who actively treat patients at the clinic. The exemption criteria seem to be in question, and further investigation may be necessary to clarify the situation.
According to Gilk, it’s important for the state to consider the specifics of when, where, and how they allow providers to avoid regulatory oversight.
Inquiring about the possibility of a single licensed physician being able to provide medical care across over 60 SimonMed locations across Arizona, we reached out to AZDHS. We also questioned how SimonMed, being one of the largest imaging centers in the country, could still be classified as physician-owned, particularly after a private equity firm, American Securities, announced a significant investment in the company two years ago.
According to ADHS, they are currently reviewing the exemption submitted by SimonMed.
According to a spokesperson, if it is determined that any of the SimonMed locations do not meet the criteria for license exemption, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will collaborate with the facilities to obtain the necessary licensure. It is currently unclear how many facilities might be impacted by this decision.
According to Sonn, “I wouldn’t want anyone else to experience what my sister went through. It has had a severe impact on her mental and emotional wellbeing.”
While ABC15 asked SimonMed several specific questions, the company did not provide answers due to HIPPA privacy concerns. However, SimonMed did emphasize their dedication to ensuring patient safety and mentioned that they are collaborating with state regulators.
SimonMed released a statement affirming their positive and productive relationship with the Arizona Department of Health Services. They stated that they are presently collaborating with the agency to establish the appropriate licensure status of their Arizona facilities.
SimonMed shared a complete statement with ABC15:
We appreciate you reaching out. First and foremost, we want to emphasize that at SimonMed Imaging, our primary focus is and always has been on providing exceptional healthcare services to our valued patients. With over 20 years of service in the communities of Arizona, we strive to uphold the highest standards of medical care through state-of-the-art technology and a dedicated team of experienced professionals.
We prioritize patient well-being and safety above all else. We adhere to strict regulatory requirements and guidelines and strive to continually ensure that our employees are properly trained to handle all possible patient and care-related situations, As a healthcare provider committed to the highest standards of quality and patient safety, we understand the importance of transparency, responsibility, and accountability. Any incidents that occur are fully investigated and all such incidents are reported to the appropriate regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies, consistent with the obligations imposed under HIPAA and other state and federal laws and regulations.
