AHRA, Toshiba award grants for 'Putting Patients First'

Seven health systems across the country are launching education and training programs thanks to a partnership between AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Toshiba Medical. The ninth annual "Putting Patients First" grants fund development programs ranging from less invasive ultrasounds to diagnose pediatric appendicitis to imaging appropriateness training to reduce patient dose and improve workflow.

“Diagnostic imaging plays a significant role in improving patient care, but many healthcare providers may not have the resources to implement the right training and education to diagnose diseases earlier and more accurately, making programs like Putting Patients First critical,” said AHRA President Jason Newmark in a statement. “This year’s selected recipients presented distinct programs that will improve safety and patient care, as well as provide new best practices to share with many other hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the country.”

A $20,000 Integrated Delivery Network grant was awarded to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York, New York, where they will improve pediatric injections by developing a numbing wrap to place on injection sites.

The $7,500 pediatric grants were awarded to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center in Chamberlain, South Dakota, and Community Wellness Center in West Linn, Oregon. Connecticut Children’s is developing a series of online videos to help prepare patients and parents for upcoming imaging exams, in an attempt to reduce anxiety. Sanford will put the $7,500 grant to use by utilizing new ultrasound technology, resulting in less invasive exams to diagnose pediatric appendicitis. Community Wellness Center will build a mobile radiography unit, expanding the geographic footprint of the imaging center. The mobile unit will have lead walls to reduce patient radiation exposure, according to a joint release from the AHRA and Toshiba Medical.

Lastly, three $7,500 patient care and safety grants were awarded to St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee, Ohio, Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. St Luke’s will improve the audio/video technology used during MRI exams to alleviate patient anxiety, reducing the need for sedation and improving the patient experience. Shands Hospital will implement appropriateness training for fluoroscopy procedures, improving workflow and reducing unnecessary procedures. St Mary’s will purchase a patient lift for fluoroscopy procedures, reducing the possibility of injury to staff and patients.