[February 07, 2018]

AHRA and Canon Medical Systems Announce 2017 Putting Patients First Grant Winners

The tenth annual Putting Patients First grant winners, announced by AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., include one grant of up to $20,000 to an Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) and six grants of up to $7,500-three focused on pediatric imaging and three on overall patient care and safety in imaging. The program makes it possible for healthcare providers to fund education and training programs to improve the patient experience and safety in diagnostic imaging.

"The Putting Patients First grants allow healthcare providers to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care through critical programs, training or seminars within diagnostic imaging," said Angelic Bush, CRA, FAHRA, president, AHRA. "The success of the programs and educational tools from previous winners over the past decade shows what can be achieved with these grants and provides best practices to share with other hospitals and institutions."

The IDN grant has been awarded to:

• Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, Mass.) will add in-bore lighting and a cinematic projector to help ease pediatric patients' and parents' anxiety during imaging exams and potentially eliminate the use of anesthesia.

Pediatric grants have been awarded to:

• Altru Health System (Grand Forks, N.D.) will create educational materials to explain the imaging process to families, enhance room appearance with calm lighting and artwork and provide visual diversions with projected images on the walls and ceilings to make imaging exams more comfortable for pediatric patients.
• Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation (Omaha, Neb.) can expand its 3D Printing Program, which will allow physicians to more effectively and safely treat heart defects, with better visualization of pediatric patients' hearts ith 3D models.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) will complete and publish a study to improve the understanding of the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) following transabdominal ultrasound as an ideal noninvasive tool without the use of ionizing radiation for pediatric patients.

• CARTI Cancer Center (Little Rock, Ark.) will fund blanket warmers for all patients undergoing exams in cool imaging rooms to provide comfort and reduce the need to use valium, so that clinicians can capture better images and avoid repeat exams.
• Nemaha Valley Community Hospital (Seneca, Kan.) will purchase a portable ultrasound unit, to be shared between its outpatient clinic and OB and ER departments, to help physicians evaluate fetal heartbeats or check fetal positioning quickly.
• UT Health: The University of Texas Health Science Center (Houston, Texas) will create educational videos that provide patients with accurate information relating to the procedures they are about to undergo, to reduce anxiety and help them to be prepared.

For a complete list of the 64 Putting Patients First grant winners, visit www.ahra.org/PatientsFirstProgram.

"Canon (News - Alert) Medical Systems has always worked hand in hand with healthcare providers to help them improve patient outcomes while maximizing comfort with the most advanced diagnostic imaging technology," said Cathy Wolfe (News - Alert), senior director, Global Strategic Communications and Market Intelligence, Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. "The Putting Patients First program allows us to continue that mission for our partners and provide them with the much-needed resources to create education and training programs."

About AHRA

AHRA is the professional organization representing management at all levels of hospital imaging departments, freestanding imaging centers, and group practices. Founded in 1973, AHRA's 5000+ members reach across the country and around the world. AHRA offers a complete slate of professional development programs, including a comprehensive selection of educational conferences and seminars, networking opportunities, award winning publications, and the Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) credential. More details about AHRA are available at www.ahra.org.

About Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc.

Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., headquartered in Tustin, Calif., markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and interventional X-ray equipment. For more information, visit Canon Medical Systems' website at https://us.medical.canon.

About Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Canon Medical Systems Corporation develops and manufactures diagnostic imaging systems including CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray systems and clinical laboratory systems and provides them to around 140 countries and regions around the world, offering technology that provides faster diagnosis and early treatment. Under the slogan "Made for Life" (Made for Partnerships, Made for Patients, Made for You.), Canon Medical Systems is making positive contributions toward hospital management, and provides a range of patient-friendly healthcare systems and services, continuing its long tradition of contributing to healthcare.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180207005262/en/

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