From the June 2014 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine



“It’s a very safe way to deliver the accurate dose to pediatric patients,” says Christine Ziemba-Landon, a product manager at Siemens.

The machines have reduced sedation rates among children because they offer quicker, quieter scanning.
“No parent wants to see their child sedated if they don’t need to be sedated,” Ziemba-Landon says. “If the technicians can get the patients on the table, and if they’re able to scan the patient in less than one second without sedation, while getting a highly diagnostic study, this scenario is contributing to a safer patient experience and more timely clinical decision making capabilities.”

Using the lowest dose of radiation possible is a top priority at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which participates in Image Gently and constantly focuses on optimizing dose.

“It’s not enough to buy a scanner with iterative reconstruction or a radiation dose tracking tool and call it a program,” says Chris Tomlinson, the executive director of radiology associates at the hospital. He says the hospital uses a committee of experts within the hospital as well as dose-tracking to follow best practices in low-dose pediatric radiation. They teamed up with the American College of Radiology to track dosing compared to other hospitals, and weigh evaluations extremely heavily on issues of dose and software to select equipment.

The cost of comfort
Dietz says that the fees vary for the GE Adventure Series, and there are additional costs for machinery decals and wall art. But he says the price is well worth the positive reactions that hospitals, patients and their families have. Nothing beats the response of a child who reports actually having fun during the procedure — and wants to do it again.

“This is really about people getting through the health care experience with a little bit of grace, a little bit of respect, if we have a little bit of fun along the way, that’s cool,” Kemper says.

Whatever it takes
Dr. Henrietta Kotlus Rosenberg, who heads the pediatric radiology department at the Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai in New York City, said the hospital’s ultrasound room has an underwater theme inspired by Disney’s film, “The Little Mermaid.” The waiting and reception areas, patient examining rooms, nursing/baby changing room, and the hallway display similar artwork that ties into the motif.

Pediatric patients can enjoy a television show, listen to music or play a video game during their procedure, and the technicians go the extra mile to make their procedure as easy and enjoyable as possible.

June 2014 Magazine

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