Ahra and Toshiba announce 2009 putting patients first grant recipients

Recognizing the need for programs that improve patient safety and quality care, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announced the six recipients of the second annual Putting Patients First grant program.

The AHRA and Toshiba Putting Patients First grant program seeks to improve patient care and safety in diagnostic imaging by offering grants to fund programs, trainings and seminars at local hospitals and imaging centers. This year, three additional grants were given specifically for pediatric programs. The awardees include: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta of Egleston (Atlanta, Ga.), Community Health Network (Indianapolis, Ind.), Memorial Hermann Outpatient Imaging Division (Houston, Texas), Highline Medical Center (Burien, Wash.), Shields Health Care (Quincy, Mass.), and St. Patrick Hospital (Missoula, Mont.). These awardees were selected by the AHRA selection committee to receive up to $7,500 grants to fund programs, trainings or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety in diagnostic imaging. Putting Patients First is funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. As part of the grant program, recipients will publish an article in an AHRA publication about their innovative programs and create a best-practices tool that can be adapted by other hospitals.

Debra A. Lopez, AHRA president, CRA, FAHRA said, Grant programs like Putting Patients First are critical given today’s health care environment and the pressures hospitals face due to limited resources and other financial challenges. This year’s winning programs demonstrated quality and innovation in patient care. They will make significant improvements to patient care and better the imaging experience for physicians and patients.