New medical technology offers the promise of improving patient care, as well as the potential for harm if caregivers are not sufficiently educated about its operation and use. Without a comprehensive approach, caregivers may learn how to use complex technology at the patient’s bedside, through trial and error, instruction manuals or informally from their colleagues. An article in AACN Advanced Critical Care describes how Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston developed an interdisciplinary fail-safe process to analyze and scale training for use of medical devices, with a risk assessment tool to predict the severity and frequency of potential harm to patients.

Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute at Hoag in Newport Beach, Calif., announced the addition of the 7D Surgical System for spinal procedures. This system uses the same technology found in self-driving cars to provide a new level of surgical navigation for radiation-free placement of spinal implants.

Radiology Services Inc. (RSI) of Topsfield, Mass., has installed five Carestream Q-Rad X-ray Systems at Lowell General Hospital (Lowell, Mass.). The digital radiography (DR) systems are located at two outpatient facilities and three urgent care centers as part of a planned medical equipment upgrade.

The thickness of the coronary artery wall as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an independent marker for heart disease in women, according to a study published in the journal Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging.

Samsung announced that its new image post-processing engine (IPE), S-Vue 3.02, recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance. The technology employs an advanced noise-reduction algorithm that allows devices to produce the same high-quality image using a fraction of the radiation in pediatric patients. Image evaluations on devices using S-Vue showed they reduced X-ray dose up to 45 percent for pediatric abdomen exams,* 15.5 percent for pediatric chest exams, and up to 27 percent for pediatric skull exams as compared with the previous IPE on the same X-ray systems.

Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas Inc., announced its KDR Advanced U-Arm and KDR Primary Digital Radiography System have been certified in California to withstand earthquakes, as part of the state’s Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. The certification provided by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) was awarded after both systems underwent and passed rigorous testing, including a shake test. With the OSHPD Seismic Certification, the KDR AU and KDR Primary can now be installed in any facility that requires this type of certification.Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas Inc., announced its KDR Advanced U-Arm and KDR Primary Digital Radiography System have been certified in California to withstand earthquakes, as part of the state’s Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. The certification provided by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) was awarded after both systems underwent and passed rigorous testing, including a shake test. With the OSHPD Seismic Certification, the KDR AU and KDR Primary can now be installed in any facility that requires this type of certification.