Tustin, Calif., July 29, 2013 – Providing hospitals with resources to expand or create education and patient care initiatives, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management announces the sixth year of its Putting Patients First Program. Putting Patients First grants enable healthcare facilities to fund programs, training or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety in CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and Vascular imaging. The grants are funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

            The AHRA & Toshiba Putting Patients First Program provides six grants of up to $7,500 each to hospitals and imaging centers, and an additional grant of up to $20,000 to an Integrated Delivery Network (IDN). Three of the $7,500 grants are awarded for projects that improve pediatric imaging, while the other three are awarded for projects that improve overall patient care and safety in imaging. The grant of up to $20,000 is awarded to an IDN or hospital system for projects that improve overall patient care and safety in imaging across the IDN/hospital system. All winning facilities will then develop and share their best practices.  

“The Putting Patients First grants allow healthcare facilities to increase the quality and efficiency of patient care,” said Carlos Vasquez, CRA, FAHRA, president, AHRA. “The creativity and success of the previous winners show what can be accomplished with these grants.”

Putting Patients First applicants are judged on their program plan and ability to share best practices. The applicants’ programs should address one or more of the following:

Reducing radiation and/or contrast dose

Reducing the need for sedation

Improving communication with patients regarding the process

Improving patient comfort

Improving the overall clinical pathway

“Toshiba has a long-standing tradition of giving back to hospitals and healthcare facilities, helping them improve delivery of care,” said Cathy Wolfe, senior director, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Toshiba. “The program also gives hospitals a unique opportunity to collaborate and share their insights with other leading healthcare providers.”

All eligible facilities are encouraged to apply by completing an application at www.ahraonline.org or www.medical.toshiba.com. The deadline to apply is October 14, 2013, and the winners, selected by theAHRA, will be announced at RSNA in December.