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November 12, 2015

ASRT Foundation and Toshiba Announce Winners of the Inaugural Safety FiRsT Grants

Winning Programs to Improve Technologist Safety

TUSTIN, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015 – Memorial Hospital of Converse County and Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center will improve technologist safety during diagnostic imaging procedures with the inaugural Safety FiRsT™ grants. Launched earlier this year by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Foundation and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., the grant program awards two ASRT members a grant of up to $7,000 each for the implementation of a radiologic technology safety program or idea that creates a safer work environment. The winning facilities will then implement the program and share best practices.

“Safety goes beyond lowering radiation dose and is an encompassing concept that includes the entire imaging process,” said Satrajit Misra, vice president, Marketing, Toshiba. “We developed this new grant program to help technologists and their institutions establish programs that meet the goals of the Triple Aim by improving individual and population-wide care, furthering Toshiba’s commitment to focus on putting its customers first by providing 360 degrees of coverage, guidance and expertise.”

Recipients this year will use the funds as follows:

• Memorial Hospital of Converse County – The hospital had a critical need for a RaySafe i2 system to provide real-time monitoring of ionized radiation and to measure exposure levels of radiation for staff members in the operating room. The new equipment will help provide personal radiation exposure data and allow staff to immediately change behavior in order to minimize their radiation dose.
• Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center – The 16-bed critical access hospital will use the grant funds to assist in purchasing an E-Z Mat and an X-ray imaging chair. Both pieces of equipment will help technologists reduce the amount of time needed to easily move and position patients, which increases the safety involved in all related procedures and exams.

“The needs of this year’s recipient facilities are considerably different, but their commitment to keeping their radiologic technologists safe is the same,” said Steve J. Hardy, M.S., R.T.(R)(T)(CT), Chairman of the Board, ASRT Foundation. “Patient safety is something that all medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are passionate about, and we are thrilled that we could help contribute to this safety need.”

For more information on the Safety FiRsT grant program visit www.asrtfoundation.org/safetyfirst or http://medical.toshiba.com/about/social-responsibility.

About the ASRT Foundation

As the philanthropic arm of the ASRT, the Foundation plays a vital role in shaping the future for radiologic technologists by providing scholarships to students and R.T.s who are beginning or continuing their education and by sponsoring research that impacts the R.T. profession. The Foundation also provides community outreach programs to help improve healthcare around the world. These initiatives, which ultimately impact patient care, are funded by individual and corporate donors.

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and cardiovascular equipment, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. For more information, visit Toshiba’s website at www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba. Visit Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation’s website at www.toshibamedicalsystems.com.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the .realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 580 consolidated companies employing 199,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.6 trillion yen (US$55 billion). To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.