Thoracic Patients Benefit From CARESTREAM DRX-Revolution At Liverpool Heart And Chest Hospital

Liverpool, September 2 - Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital has become the latest hospital to install CARESTREAM DRX-Revolution mobile x-ray units.

One of the largest specialist heart and chest hospitals in the UK, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine including adult cystic fibrosis and diagnostic imaging. In 2014, the Trust was rated top in the country for 'overall patient care' in the Care Quality Commission's National Inpatient Survey - the seventh time in 8 years.

As a tertiary hospital, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital provides heart and chest services for the North West of England, including North Wales and the Isle of Man. The Radiology department is a shared radiology service providing diagnostic imaging for both Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital with MRI, CT, five Image Intensifiers, five Cath. Labs and a hybrid theatre for TEVAR/TAVI

The four new Carestream DRX-Revolutions are used in the general Radiology Department for all mobile X-ray requests, which can number up to 50 mobile images per day.

Diane Evans, Superintendent Radiographer of the Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital Radiology Dept. explained the process by which the Revolution units were chosen: ‘we undertook an evaluation of six digital mobile units, with a team of four radiographers rating them on a range of parameters, including ease of manoeuvring and visibility when driving, ease of tube movement and positioning of the detector and the ability to link to our PACS/CRIS,’ said Diane.

‘They also considered image quality on screen, the amount of training required, infection control issues and the overall cost. Finally the radiologists commented on image quality when viewing on PACS then, after evaluating the radiographers’ scores, comparing costs and considering comments from radiologists, the decision was made to purchase four Carestream DRX-Revolution mobiles.’

Diane Evans detailed the benefits to staff of the new Carestream DRX-Revolution units. ‘We previously used conventional mobile x-ray machines with CR cassettes. This was more time consuming, as we needed to consider processing time, and harder physical work due to the number of CR cassettes required. Clinical staff enjoy the ‘instant’ imaging so they can continue with patient treatment or schedule interventions to hasten the patient’s recovery, and there’s the added bonus of the Pic Line windowing to enhance lines and devices.’

‘Patients on our main Thoracic ward are also benefiting as we are able to use the Revolution as a satellite x-ray room to x-ray patients in the PA position, who would normally be x-rayed as an AP mobile,’ Diane continued. ‘This has the advantage of better radiation protection and gives clinicians the ‘gold standard’ PA chest x-ray. In addition, patients’ dignity is maintained as they don’t leave the ward to be pushed down a draughty corridor and can spend more time with relatives on the ward. Our porters are then able to concentrate on CT/MRI patients to aid an efficient, but extremely busy cross-sectional service.

‘For a hospital that has consistently been rated the premiere hospital for patient care over the last eight years, the Carestream DRX-Revolution mobile units have been a successful addition to our imaging modalities for patients, clinicians and for our service development into the 21^st century.’

	(l-r) Jonathan Atkinson, Carestream Key Account Manager; Lorraine Blamire Radiographer; Diane Evans, Superintendent Radiographer; Viv Briscoe,  Superintendent Radiographer; Alun Evans, Senior Radiographer; Janette Rekatas, Radiology Manager (all from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital)