This is Part 3 in a 4-part series on hospital administrator IGT challenges and solutions. Part 1 offered an overview of IGT in the modern hospital. Part 2 discussed how hospitals can meet increasing demand for IGT procedures. In Part 3, we’ll offer tips for choosing the right IGT equipment.
Hospital administrators want to improve medical outcomes and patient experiences through image-guided therapy (IGT) equipment. They have options – and plenty of sales pitches – yet limited budgets and space, so they need to carefully select the right equipment to deliver the highest level of care.
1. Keep up with technology – as long as it enhances healthcare
IGT technology advances at a rapid pace, and it seems everything gets outdated much faster than most administrators would like. However, just because a new technology is available doesn’t mean it’s right for a given hospital.
It’s crucial to evaluate whether the “latest and greatest” truly represents a healthcare enhancement or if it only adds unnecessary bells and whistles. Administrators can rely on knowledgeable caregivers to lend insight into whether an IGT device will enhance care, as caregivers know their fields well and often drive new investment.
2. Think beyond the machines – accessories matter, too
Image-guided therapy calls to mind MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds and fluoroscopy, but an effective IGT program goes beyond the machines. It also includes patient positioning and related staff solutions, since patients must remain safe and comfortable during IGT procedures and staff must be able to perform their duties safely and efficiently.
However, administrators can find it challenging to get the patient positioning devices and accessories they need. This is particularly true for large hospital systems, which often have bureaucratic red tape and middlemen that represent obstacles. Administrators can’t simply order what they need; instead, they need to get permission to work with different vendors and, in some cases, they don’t get a voice in purchasing decisions.
In one example, an interventional radiology department needed new shielding equipment for its staff. Though IR used shielding equipment more than any other department in the hospital, its administrators and staff weren’t consulted during the purchasing process – and they ended up with inferior equipment.
Administrators do not always have the freedom to find and order the accessories they need, and even when they have a voice, too many middlemen can mean important requests get lost in translation. Staff get creative when they don’t have the equipment they need – they might use rolled up towels instead of knee bolsters, for example – but that creates inefficiencies because they don’t have the interfacing devices needed to quickly, safely and comfortably position patients.
3. Show superiors the value of administrator input
Administrators need to show their superiors why their input is critical to improving quality of care and overall outcomes.
For example, the right patient interface equipment improves patient comfort and safety with:
- Radiolucency, which allows caregivers to obtain clear images at low radiation levels. It also reduces the need for costly re-imaging (that exposes patients to more radiation)
- Patient supports that help them remain stationary during imaging and procedures
- Soft, breathable materials that reduce injury risk yet provide exceptional support
- Interchangeable accessories, which allow caregivers to convert rooms between procedures or switch from minimally invasive to open procedures if needed (without needing to move to ORs that have limited availability)
Patient interface equipment also improves staff efficiency because:
- Staff can quickly and easily position and move patients
- Caregivers can simultaneously image and access patients during procedures
- Staff can swiftly switch between different types of procedures in a hybrid OR
- Hospitals can purchase portable equipment that brings care to the patient
Next step
Gain insights into how hospital administrators can justify and fund IGT equipment in Part 4 of this series.
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