In the inaugural installment of Imaging Department Spotlight, AXIS Imaging News profiles the imaging team at Texas Children’s Hospital—the nation’s largest children’s hospital. Below, Christine Sholar, Texas Children’s Hospital’s CT and nuclear radiology manager, shares why “ALARA” is one of the team’s guiding principles and how the department is taking steps to thwart cyberattacks—an emerging threat in the diagnostic imaging field.
AXIS Imaging News: Children are clearly a very sensitive patient population—particularly in relation to radiation dosage. In what ways is Texas Children’s Hospital’s radiology department working to lower dose in children?
Christine Sholar: Texas Children’s radiology imaging department has made great strides to ensure all patient radiation doses are safe while practicing ALARA (“as low as reasonably achievable”) principles. The radiology department has partnered with radiation safety to perform continuous equipment evaluations among various vendors and pediatric institutions—as well as to collect internal data. The collection of this information is processed and shared on a monthly/quarterly basis with staff, along with the Radiation Safety Committee, to improve processes, techniques, and education.
Another key component that is used among various modalities is Radimetrics. This software aids in collecting dose organ tracking, [providing] patient education, and establishing alerts while meeting regulatory requirements. The radiology imaging department is committed to ensuring all patient radiation doses are minimal while maintaining image quality.
AXIS: How has your imaging department evolved in the past few years? How do you expect the department to evolve even more in the future?
Sholar: The radiology imaging department at Texas Children’s Hospital has grown substantially to support the surrounding needs of the pediatric population by updating to the newest equipment that meets American College of Radiology and state regulations. The department increased staffing to support patient demands due to the growth of community imaging centers and the addition of regional Texas Children’s Hospital campuses. The most current addition to Texas Children’s is the Life Flight service, which partners with CT and Rad.
The radiology department will continue to evolve by maintaining a focus on increasing patient safety and implementing new imaging techniques with state-of-the-art equipment. Further, the radiology team will continue to support Texas Children’s mission to provide the highest quality care possible and remain involved in research.
AXIS: Medical device cybersecurity is a major issue in healthcare—and one discussed in detail at the recent annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. In what ways is Texas Children’s Hospital’s radiology department working to thwart cyberattacks among your imaging devices?
Sholar: The radiology department at Texas Children’s partners with information services to ensure all radiology equipment is supported by layers of security to meet U.S. FDA/HIPAA guidelines. These layers consist of software/firmware updates, employee education, no third-party involvement, and managed security/network services to assist in detection.
AXIS: Is your anything else you want AXIS Imaging News readers to know about your imaging department?
Sholar: Our radiology department is outstanding and our staff members are committed to the mission of Texas Children’s Hospital. Plus, there is minimal employee turnover compared to other departments around the nation, which fosters a high level of customer service and dedication.
Would you like us to feature your imaging department in an upcoming “Department Spotlight” article? Email chief editor Keri Forsythe-Stephens at [email protected] and tell her why your department shines.
