The Royal Hospital in Oman adopts mobile DR technology from Carestream Healthfor best imaging quality at minimum dose suitable for infants

The Royal Hospital is owned and administered by the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman. Commissioned in 1987, it is an important landmark in the development of health services in the Sultanate during the renaissance program of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in this prosperous period of Oman’s contemporary history. Through this Hospital, the Government aims at providing specialist and super-specialist care of the highest standard. Recently, the hospital has acquired for their pediatric imaging needs state-of-the-art mobile DR technology from Carestream Health in order to secure the best imaging quality at minimum dose suitable for infants.

Pediatric radiography presents some

unique concerns. Imaging systems de-

signed for adults can expose children

to radiation beyond what’s needed

for high-quality images – while kids

are more vulnerable to radiation-in-

duced cancers. Speaking to us during

Arab Health Mirna Bassil, Marketing

Manager for Emerging Markets region

at Carestream said: “You always want

the best diagnostic images at the low-

est dose achievable, especially when

the patient is a child. Carestream x-ray

solutions integrate hardware and soft-

ware tailored to the specific demands

of pediatric imaging.

These solutions contribute to the op-

timal pediatric imaging outcome at ev-

ery stage of the imaging chain – image

acquisition, processing and review. We

were delighted we could help Roy-

al Hospital reach their high standard

of care goal in pediatric radiography

with our DRX-Revolution system and

our DRX 2530C Detector, which was

custom-engineered and approved for

pediatric applications.” Commenting

on the collaboration with The Royal

Hospital, she added “The challenge &

objective were to achieve dose reduc-

tion with satisfactory image quality

following ALARA radiation safety prin-

ciple. For that purpose, we flew in to

Oman Mr. Bernardus Johannes (Jerry)

Meupelenberg, an experienced X-ray

technologist from the prestigious VU

University Medical Center, Amsterdam

to set the right dose/image quality

parameters and to share information

from his own research on Techniques

& Dose Factors in Pediatric Imaging

with the hospital’s radiology staff.”

To learn more about the hospital’s ex-

perience with the dedicated perdiatric

imaging solution, we spoke to Dr.Saud

Al-Shabibi, Consultant Pediatric Ra-

diologist and Mrs. Parveen Mohamed

Ali, Superintendent Radiographer at

the Royal Hospital who both played

a key role in evolving the pediatric

imaging standard of care at the hos-

pital. Dr. Saud told us “in pediatric ra-

diology, we deal with dynamic stages

of human development which needs

a dynamic system to adjust the ra-

diation dose and the image quality

accordingly. This is not an as easy job

as it sounds.

However, with the new digital tech-

nology, we approach a real optimal

level of adjustment of these two op-

posite parameters. DRX Revolution

proved successful in performing a

low radiation dose image, yet with

improved image quality. When com-

paring the current DR system with

previous CR one, we as pediatric ra-

diologists and the pediatricians agree

across the board that the image qual-

ity has dramatically improved espe-

cially in the small babies.”

In answer to our question about how

the pediatric imaging solution offered

by Carestream helped them address

some of the needs specific to pediatric

imaging, he added: “DRX-Revolution

and the DRX 2530C detector provided

us with a very useful feature; In fact,

thanks to the advanced software, we

could apply different imaging filters

according to the clinical interest of a

particular case scenario. For example,

if I’m interested in assessing the ribs,

then I can ask for the filter that can give

the best image quality for ribs without

re-exposing the child to another radi-

ation. In addition, the DRX revolution

with its fabulous detectors and the way

the image is taken helped our neona-

tologists better control the spread of

infections in neonatology unit. This is

all in addition to the improved workflow

benefit.” Dr. Saud concluded adding:

“The most useful benefit is the imme-

diate availability of the image in a 19

inch screen with semi diagnostic quality,

where the child Specialists / neonatol-

ogists can decide immediately on child

management such as changing tube,

line or catheter position.”

Mrs. Parveen from her side shared with

us some more feedback from a user per-

spective. Here’s a snapshot of our Q&A

with her:

What inspired your organization to look at Mobile DR systems and ultimately purchase a DRX- revolution?We are all shifting towards the DR

technologies. All our major hospitals

are considering the purchase of DR

mobiles. As we know the technology

is faster, it saves us time in the work-

flow with lower dose of radiation, be-

cause the repeat rate is far less with a

better image quality.

What are the major benefits your organization has experienced using the DRX revolution?My hospital is the first hospital in Oman

to purchase a mobile DR with dual

detectors from Carestream. We are

very happy with the outcome because

our staff can now use the same equip-

ment on adults and children at the same

time; it is easier and faster for them on

the workflow. The DRX2530 small de-

tector has offered us enormous help in

the neonatology department. We used

to have lots of problems because with

analogue x-ray systems and CR, we had

to put the cassette under the child and

of course, the risk of infection was high

and it took us tremendous time and

effort to manipulate the device under

the baby. When we look at DRX, we can

see that the wave detector is very slim in

a cassette type and it goes in the crib, so

there is no direct contact with the child

and the risk of infection is barely exis-

tent. The doctors and nurses are very

satisfied but the biggest advantage we

have seen is the reduction in dose by

more than 50% and of course at the end

of the day,we are saving our babies from

high radiation doses and this is the ulti-

mate target of every radiologist.

How are the radiographers find-ing the use of the system when it comes to mobility?We find it very user-friendly; the fact

that the column comes down makes it

easier to see in front so we are avoiding

bumping in doors or walls. The other

thing is that radiographers can move

the machine by a press of a button,

from one side to another. Not to for-

get the fact that, the radiographer can

use one machine to x-ray both adults

and children and that is major break-

through in itself.

How easy was it for your team to train on using the mobile unit particularly with the small detector in the neonatal unit? Did Carestream provide any education and training support?I am actually very happy with Care-

stream approach in this area. They

brought a pediatric radiographer to as-

sist us, and an application specialist to

train us on how to use the equipment,

and this is a very positive thing. A pe-

diatric radiographer helped us set dose

factors for the pediatric detector and

we are very grateful for this major step.

What do you hope to achieve in the future using the DRX Revolution?I am hoping that all the hospitals in

Oman will be able to buy the small de-

tector for their neonatology depart-

ment. There is a big competition in

the market but Carestream has done

a good job and we will see what the

future will hold for us. We are now

providing digital imaging, CR imag-

ing, everywhere in Oman. Our goal is

to provide our patients and especially

our children and young generations

with the best imaging technology with

the lowest radiation possible.

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