General information

CHECK THIS PAGE REGULARLY

INTRODUCTION
This document describes the procedure on scanning during the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, go to the GIfMI website (http://gifmi.ugent.be) or contact Rik.Achten@UGent.be (GIfMI Director), Pieter.Vandemaele@UGent.be (GIfMI Site Manager) or Stephanie.Bogaert@UZGent.be (GIfMI Research Assistant).

STAY UPDATED
All up-to-date information on the Covid-19 exit strategy is available on the GIfMI website (http://gifmi.ugent.be/drupal/covid19/general-information). Please read this documentation carefully and regularly check on updates. 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

GIfMI puts following personal protective equipment (Covid-19 specific) at your disposal:

    • Soap and tissues
    • Disinfecting spray and cloths (Clinell®)

Researchers and participants provide their own masks (fabric or disposable)!

GIfMI does have spare masks available just in case the mask of the participant is not MRI safe or wet or visibly dirty or in case anyone might have forgotten a mask.

FIRST AID

The Red Cross has published updated First Aid guidelines. Please check these out:
https://www.rodekruis.be/nieuws-kalender/nieuws/eerste-hulp-en-reanimeren-in-tijden-van-corona/ 

GUIDELINES
Important guidelines have been published on several levels. Compliance to all these guidelines is mandatory to use the GIfMI facility. Make yourself familiar with the most recent guidelines which can be found below.

Governmental guidelines
The Belgian federal public service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment publishes and updates regularly general guidelines. These can be found here: 
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/

UGent general guidelines
The Ghent University published guidelines for starting up scientific work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Make yourself familiar with the most recent guidelines which can be found here:
https://www.ugent.be/nl/actueel/coronavirus.htm

UZ Gent general guidelines
The Ghent University Hospital also published guidelines. These are more oriented to the clinic. These can be found here for completeness:
https://www.uzgent.be/nl/actueel/nieuws/Paginas/covid19-maatregelen.aspx

For your and everyone’s safety, we ask you to follow the general guidelines of UZ Gent throughout the campus.

    • Don’t come when you have a fever or flu symptoms.
    • Wear a mouth mask over nose, mouth and chin.
    • Respect social distancing of 1.5 meters.
    • Regularly wash your hands with water and soap.
    • Don’t shake hands.
    • Use disposable handkerchiefs when sneezing/coughing or sneeze/cough in your sleeve on the inside of your elbow.
    • Don’t touch your face with your hands.

GIfMI local guidelines
We have also developed local guidelines, tailored to safe scanning practices. This list is non-exhaustive, additions or changes can be communicated at any time.
Important is to understand that the guidelines provided by GIfMI on Covid-19 specific issues have higher priority than the ones in your own application meaning that if a guideline of GIfMI is more strict, this rule will have precedence.

The guidelines are part of the Procedure Scanning.

PROCEDURES
GIfMI has developed some procedures and audio-visual material on booking, scanning and hygiene which will be available on the GIfMI website after approval by the H&S office. Beside the procedures, all necessary documents and audiovisual materials are available as downloads.

General information

This document

Procedure Booking

Updated guidelines on scanner booking. These guidelines overrule the general guidelines where applicable. 

Procedure Hygiene

Detailed instructions on hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic. Instruction videos are also available.

Procedure Scanning

Step-by-step instructions and hands-on information for a safe MRI scanning session.