From the March 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
At Adventist Health White Memorial, these capabilities have been a game-changer in the rapid delivery of care for preemies as well as babies and children. Moreover, in an era of fiscal responsibility, efficiency is the name of the game. Our goal is to do a procedure right the first time. SonoSite X-Porte allows us to put IV’s in fast, get medicines started and let the process of healing begin. That, in turn, opens the door to moving on to the next task and tending to the next patient. It’s a downstream effect that allows us to treat more patients, faster, safer and better.
Treating trauma patients, evaluating breathing issues
Adventist Health White Memorial is a pediatric emergency designated medical center. We receive pediatric patients from all over LA County in the 911 systems – and those kids require speedy attention. Here again, sophisticated point-of-care ultrasound plays a key role in our ability to save young lives. The technology is used to treat pediatric trauma victims rapidly and with confidence.
Another common occurrence in pediatric medicine is when a child presents with increased work of breathing. While it could be just a cold, it could also be pneumonia, or worse still, a life-threatening condition that requires air to be drained from the lungs. This is when a digital X-ray helps us provide a rapid diagnosis and can be a lifesaving tool.
We use digital x-ray on the pediatric floors as well in the NICU, PICU and ED. It is a highly utilized modality throughout the hospital, and that is one of the reasons why White Memorial chose a mobile system.
Fujifilm’s FDR Go portable digital radiography system can be quickly deployed at the bedside. It’s an ideal solution when there is a critically ill child on the floor that we are unable to bring down to radiology. Digital images are taken in minutes and are available for reading within 10 minutes. The technology decreases costs, improves productivity and allows us to make a speedy diagnosis, such as in those cases of increased work of breathing where every second counts.
Like all pediatric departments, our clinical team is acutely aware of the harm excessive radiation can cause in children. That is another benefit of the equipment we use. FDR Go is compatible with all Fujifilm FDR D-EVO wireless detectors, which feature a patented technology for exceptional image quality but at lower dose.
