TUSTIN, Calif., July 24, 2018 – Building on a decade of commitment in helping health care facilities pursue greater patient care and safety, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. announce the 11th annual Putting Patients First program, with two new categories. Putting Patients First grants enable health care facilities to fund programs, training or seminars aimed at improving patient care and safety and customizing treatment in CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and vascular imaging. The grants are funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Canon Medical Systems, USA.

The AHRA & Canon Medical Systems Putting Patients First program provides six grants of up to $7,500 each to hospitals and imaging centers, and two grants of up to $10,000 each to an Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) and an imaging cybersecurity program, respectively. Two of the $7,500 grants are awarded for projects that improve pediatric imaging, two focusing on overall diagnostic imaging and two for a new category that targets oncology imaging. The two grants of up to $10,000 are awarded to an IDN or hospital system for projects that improve overall patient care and safety in imaging across the IDN/hospital system, as well as a new category added this year for a facility that develops and strengthens an imaging cybersecurity program. All winning facilities will then develop and share their best practices.

“For over a decade, Putting Patients First has awarded 64 grants totaling $620,000 to bolster progress and strengthen the quality and efficiency of patient care for health care facilities all over the country,” said Angelic Bush, CRA, FAHRA, 2017-2018 president, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management. “Past winners have demonstrated a strong commitment to developing innovative solutions and raising the highest standard of care in a constantly evolving health care landscape.”
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

“After 11 years of providing health care facilities with the resources they need to excel in patient care, the Putting Patients First grant is expanding into new categories to meet rising needs for cybersecurity and oncology programs,” said Catherine Wolfe, senior director, Strategic Communications and Market Intelligence, Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. “Cancer rates are expected to increase 68 percent by 2030 and imaging plays an important role in diagnosis, treatment and evaluation, while cyber threats targeting hospitals continue to increase and research has shown that effective response to data breeches can save lives. Health care providers need unique programs to address both and we are excited to expand the Putting Patients First grants to give facilities the best line of defense to ensure patient safety and security.”

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