Introduction:

Risk assessment in quality and safety management allows the continuous improvement of the medical services in Cuba. In Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine, it is a regulatory requirement which allows the continuity of these services to the population.

Objective:

To assess radiological risks with an integrated approach focused on underlying causes of failure in the mentioned practice.

Material and Methods:

The generic risk model was reviewed and adapted for each case study. The prospective methods of risk assessment matrix of failure modes and effects and incident learning lessons from the events registered were used applying the Cuban code SECURE MR-FMEA version 3.0. The inherent risk, treatment, and residual risk in the practice were determined. The stages of the process, measurements, and the main contributing causes were identified.

Results:

There was no risk higher than the high level. Radiosynoviorthesis and the radioactive treatment of the Polycythemia Vera had the greatest amount of modifications to the generic model. The most significant stages are clinical prescription, preparation of the radiopharmaceutical formulation and administration. The most important preventive measures are to maintain a moderate workload for the personnel, and the training of the nuclear physicians and the technician who performs the administration.

Conclusions:

There is a non-uniformity in the level of quality and safety among the NTM services in Cuba. For change, decision-making is benefited in terms of effectiveness and efficiency by integrating prospective and reactive risk assessment methods.

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