There are times when you strive to make something good even better when you know no one else may notice. You make the effort because it’s the right thing to do and therefore, must be done.
That is the case at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Every day employees are searching for ways to enhance the quality of care they deliver. One shining example comes from within the hospital’s Imaging Services Department.
The staff who operate the Computerized Tomography (CT) machine set a goal to reduce the amount of radiation patients receive during these common diagnostic exams. CT scans use ionizing radiation, which has the potential to cause cancer. The risk increases each time a patient has a scan. The benefits of the scan can far outweigh the risk associated with any individual scan. This is especially true if a physician orders a test to get the definitive information he or she needs to tailor a patient’s treatment plan.
“Patients who have had a CT scan at St. Mary’s don’t know they have been given the additional benefit of reduced radiation dose by using our service, but we do and that makes us proud.” said Cindy Brousseau, Director of Imaging Services. “Our efforts won’t stop here, however. We’re always looking for ways to improve our services.”
CT staff initiated a campaign to educate health care providers in the use of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria, an evidence-based reference guide for physicians. Imaging Services Manager Donna Knightly traveled to doctors’ offices to demonstrate the easy access to the Criteria via the Internet and answer questions about its use. “The physicians really appreciated the information — after all they have their patients’ best interests at heart,” Knightly said. “Technology is constantly changing and so is the way we use it. Some doctors weren’t aware that the link to this evidence based guide can be placed on their computer desktop.”
According to Dr. James Place, Medical Director of St. Mary’s Imaging Services Department, those outreach sessions really paid off. “We’ve seen a 48% improvement in the selection of the correct CT studies for a wide range of diagnoses. This means fewer incidents of repeat testing for patients and faster, more efficient service. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
In a system of checks and balances, radiologists now review all scheduled CT exams to ensure the ordered tests are the most appropriate for the patients’ signs and symptoms. In some cases, the radiologists recommended using an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test as a better way to get the answers without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation.
Of course, reducing radiation doses was the ultimate goal. After a great deal of research, CT staff revised the machine’s scanning parameters and refined protocols for each test performed. The results were astounding. They were able to reduce radiation levels 75% for the head, 66% for the neck, 50% for the lower back, and 50% for arms and legs.
Additionally, reductions in radiation doses to sensitive breast tissue were achieved by using supplemental shields whenever possible. These shields can reduce the radiation dose by approximately 29%.
