January 29, 2014 — AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. announced seven recipients of the sixth annual Putting Patients First grant program. Recipients were judged on their program plan and ability to share best practices for improving patient care and safety in CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and vascular imaging.
Six grants of up to $7,500 were awarded to hospitals, three focused on pediatrics and three on overall imaging. Another grant of up to $20,000 was awarded to an integrated delivery network (IDN)/hospital system.
IDN Grant Winner
OhioHealth (Columbus, Ohio) – OhioHealth's Lung Cancer Screening Program will use an OhioHealth Cancer Services video to highlight advantages of comprehensive lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of smoking cessation.
Pediatric Program Winners
Medical City Dallas (Dallas, Texas) – City Scans for Kids will create an interactive website that increases preparation and decreases stress and anxiety prior to radiology procedures.
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Baton Rouge, La.) – Reducing Cervical Spine Imaging in Pediatric Trauma Patients less than Age 11 will use a research-supported pediatric cervical spine clearance protocol to reduce radiation exposure in children younger than 11.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.) – Brave Kid Capes/Super Hero Support will help minimize anxiety sensed by younger patients undergoing radiology imaging examinations.
General Program Winners
San Joaquin General Hospital (French Camp, Calif.) – Agents of Shielding will train medical and resident staffs in radiation protection when using radiation-producing imaging devices.
Riddle Hospital (Media, Pa.) – Reducing Radiation Exposure within the Interventional Cardiology Lab will evaluate current protocols and implement new techniques involving shielding, time of exposure and positioning during procedures.
Blue Mountain Hospital (John Day, Ore.) – Acquiring MRI Safe Wheelchair and Gurney will eliminate the need for patients who are unable to walk easily to move from the shielded area into the scan room.
In addition to receiving grants, all winning programs will be featured in an AHRA publication. The Putting Patients First program is funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. Since the program’s inception in 2008, more than $300,000 has been awarded.
For more information: www.ahraonlin.org, www.medical.toshiba.com
