The AHRA and Toshiba America Medical Systems have announced the ninth year of their Putting Patients First grant program.
The grants allow healthcare facilities to fund programs, training, or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety, as well as customize treatment in CT, MR, ultrasound, x-ray, and vascular imaging. The grants are funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba.
The 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; the other three are awarded for projects that improve overall patient care and safety in imaging.
The larger grant 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.
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
The deadline to apply is October 28, and the winners, selected by the AHRA, will be announced at the RSNA 2016 meeting.
