More Than a Provider: On-Site with Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals

Reading Time: 5 minutes read

The following is intended for promotional purposes only and is not medical advice. Additionally, any views, statements, or opinions expressed by the speakers were made voluntarily by uncompensated customers or employees and should not be construed as factual.

Working in healthcare comes with a sense of pride and purpose. Even if we’re not the ones directly saving lives—or working to protect them—our products and services help provide a positive force in the world.

More often than not, this space is dedicated to sharing insights about radiography, demonstrating how Carestream can alleviate organizations’ concerns and solve challenges, and providing insight into important industry innovations.

This time, however, we want to take a brief pause from what our audiences have come to expect. Instead, we want to share a story from an employee’s point of view.

Earlier this spring, Carestream’s Digital Marketing Manager, John Crowther, had the opportunity to travel to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in St. Louis to capture this story firsthand. 

Here is his experience.

Carestream and Shriner’s Relationship

What stood out to me was how Shriner’s mentioned its relationship with Carestream was one of the most unique it has ever had.

“This is equipment we use every day to help provide answers for our pediatric patients,” said Elissa Almeter, CRA, B.S., RT(R) and Radiology Director at Shriner’s St. Louis.

“What stands out is that Carestream comes in to check on us and see how we’re doing—not to sell us equipment but to ask, “How are we doing?” “How can we do better?”

This is what our Service and Specialist team does for all customers as part of our Customer Wellness program—but it was nice to hear about it in person.

She also pointed to Carestream’s Field Engineers and Applications Trainers as examples of how our people excel.

“Field Engineers are vital,” she said. “Having them available to come on site gives you invaluable peace of mind. And the Applications Trainers do an amazing job because they’re there to support you after the fact.”

What really makes the difference with Carestream?

“The family atmosphere makes you feel like you’re a part of the team,” Elissa shared. “They want to know how you personally are doing. They ask about your family. These connections are important because they show a sense of commitment to taking care of you.”

Aligned Goals

Carestream has always provided solutions to our customers that meet their goals, and one of Shriner’s foremost goals has been to reduce patient dose.

The idea of ALARA is nothing new, but to know we’re helping a customer accomplish a goal related to lowering doses—especially for pediatric patients—is inspiring. Since working with Carestream, Shriner’s has been able to set up a pediatric dose chart to help the radiology staff—as well as students and new hires—focus on exposing patients to the lowest radiation dose possible.

Shriner’s has also seen significant gains from using a Carestream long-length imaging detector.

Whereas previously long-length imaging took several exposures that had to be stitched together, now one image per view is captured—eliminating the need for stitching. Not only does that save time and optimize productivity, but it makes the imaging process easier—especially for pediatric patients.

“We see between 20–70 patients a day,” said Elissa, “and being able to focus on your patients without worrying about your equipment is huge. It’s really important to have a partner with whom we can work well.”

When a patient can sense the person doing the imaging is comfortable and confident with the equipment, it can allay some fears and discomfort and potentially expedite the imaging process. 

Partners Today and Tomorrow

I asked Shriner’s in St. Louis about its biggest challenge for the future. The answer is one undoubtedly shared by countless other providers—staying up to date with technology.

With Carestream as a partner, Elissa mentioned patients sometimes comment on the up-to-date equipment—even if they don’t fully understand the science or design.

Students and new hires do understand what’s behind the equipment, and they regularly come away not only impressed but enabled to provide stellar, more personalized treatment. At the same time, technologists feel comfortable with the knowledge that they can trust the reliability and accuracy of Carestream equipment for image capture—especially when time is of the essence.

Whether developing the latest imaging solution with radiographer and patient needs in mind, providing responsive, communicative service, or simply checking in to see how our customers are doing, everything we do is centered around the human experience.

And though industry accolades, awards, and data (like Net Promoter Score and IMV ServiceTrak Awards) can help establish that you’re doing your work the right way, nothing reinforces that notion like hearing it straight from a customer.

After all, what is healthcare—especially for pediatric patients—if you’re not putting those patients at ease, creating an inclusive, comfortable family environment, and being there every step of the way, not just as an image provider but as a member of the family?

That’s what Carestream is about—and it makes me proud to be a part of this team.