AHRA and Toshiba partner on putting patients first program

Patient safety and quality care continue to be important issues for hospitals and imaging centers. To help these facilities start new or build upon existing programs, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management announces the second year of its Putting Patients First grant program.

Putting Patients First grants will further efforts by healthcare facilities to improve imaging quality and safety for patients. This year the program has been expanded to include imaging centers and will award three additional grants specifically for pediatric programs. Putting Patients First is funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

Putting Patients First will provide grants to hospitals and imaging centers to create programs, training and/or seminars to improve pediatric or adult patient care and safety in diagnostic imaging in the areas of CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray and Vascular. Winning facilities will then develop and share their best practices with others.

In its second year, this program has expanded its scope to include improving the imaging of children. Children have special imaging needs – exposure to radiation and contrast are concerns within the industry, as is ensuring that children are well prepared for the imaging experience. Putting Patients First will help facilities address these very specific needs.

“Last year, AHRA and Toshiba were able to help three hospitals make improvements to patient care in imaging,” said AHRA president, Debra A. Lopez, CRA, FAHRA. “Building on the successful first year of Putting Patients First, we are now able to double the number of grants offered and expand to include new specialties. This is particularly important in a time when the industry is being financially challenged.”

Putting Patients First applicants will be judged on their plan for a program to improve pediatric or adult patient care and safety in imaging and their ability to share best imaging practices. The applicants’ programs should seek to improve imaging practices and 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’s primary focus is on developing products that deliver the highest quality patient care,” said Cathy Wolfe, director, Marketing Services, Toshiba. “By funding these grants, we are giving hospitals and imaging centers the ability to continue improving imaging quality and safety for children and adults through the development of diagnostic imaging best practices.”

The AHRA will award six Putting Patients First grants of up to $7,500. 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 31, 2009.

About AHRA

AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management is the preeminent organization for leaders in medical imaging. AHRA offers a complete slate of professional development programs, including a comprehensive selection of education conferences and seminars through its Leadership Institute, diverse networking opportunities, award-winning publications and the Certified Radiology Administrator credential. Founded in 1973, AHRA’s more than 4,000 members represent management at all levels for freestanding imaging centers, hospital imaging departments and group practices. More information about AHRA can be found at  www.ahraonline.org.

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