The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Foundation and Canon Medical Systems have announced this year’s two recipients of grants from the Safety FiRsT program.
Each grant was awarded to an ASRT member aiming to improve technologist safety at their facility. Recipients also receive a copy of Safety Essentials: The Series from ASRT.
The recipients are:
- Ruth Van Davelaar, MHSA, RT(R)(T), of Riverside Health System in Newport News, Virginia. The Safety FiRsT grant will go toward purchasing a vertical power lift that makes it easier to move patients from floor-level surfaces to higher levels such as chairs or treatment tables. This lift is expected to reduce back strain and other related injuries.
- Annette Long, RT(R)(MR) MRSO, of OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The Safety FiRsT grant will go toward purchasing a ferromagnetic detection system to improve MR safety. The system lets users conduct real-time screening of “potentially hazardous implants, devices and supplies and prevent injury from ferrous materials that could otherwise enter the screening room.”
“By celebrating this award publicly, more opportunities will arise to talk about safety in our profession, and to take specific and deliberate action,” Van Davelaar said in a prepared statement. “This [grant] enables us to highlight and promote safety for our team while providing safe and comfortable transfers for our patients.”
Back in April, the ASRT Foundation and Canon announced they were accepting applications for the Safety FiRsT grant program.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.