Capital Project: CT scan

Introduction

Computerized tomography otherwise referred to as CT scan or formerly as computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, is a vital procedure used in advanced health institutions. Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami, Florida is also considering the use of this medical tool in health care. The health facility is unable to handle a large number of patients at the moment, resulting to the need for transfer means in some situations like accidents. The machine is estimated to cost around $50,000 and a budget plan has been made. Patients with injuries and traumas are often transferred to other hospitals due to lack of enough resources for health care. It is an X-ray procedure utilizing numerous X-ray images and a computer to generate three dimensional images and cross sectional views of the internal body organs and structures. In most cases, hospitals use the procedure in defining normal and abnormal body structures, and also assist in accurate placement of treatments and instruments into the body (Borglum, 2008). The hospital has a budget plan amounting to more than $50,000 in purchasing the machine. Arriving to this decision was influenced by the numerous returns most advanced medical institutions are enjoying today. After investing in a CT scan, revenue projections as evident in other hospitals show great increases. The CT images allow the physicians and radiologists in the identification of structures and organs. From this they can identify them in terms of size, texture, density and shape. The information is useful in deciding if a given body part requires medical attention. The abnormal parts are also shown so as to direct the physician to the areas that should be given thorough consideration (Nelson and Eller, 2009). One importance of CT scan is that information is always given in seconds making it timely. The paper will focus on the organizational, managerial and departmental goals of the Kendall Regional Medical Center. Potential benefits of the machine to the health organizations are also discussed.

Management Goals Supported by the Capital Project

CT scan is beneficial in many areas of medical and health care. Apart from the advantages the machine and procedure offers the patient, the medical center is also supported a great deal. Through this capital project, the hospital’s management goals can be met, thus increasing the development of the health facility.

Revenue

The machine is expensive no doubt but it gives the health practitioners a new way to observe patients’ organs in a faster way. This is the latest medical technology and having the machine provides extra revenue to Kendall medical facility. Lately, medical experts are devoted to the use of new and most expensive technologies like CT scan. This reason makes it vital for governments to spend more money on the health care sector than other sectors (Cleverly et al., 2011). Several hospitals are utilizing CT scanners to image angiograms and other procedures. Investing in a CT scan enables the hospital to use the machine as often as possible. Fees got from CT scanning are today becoming a huge portion of health workers’ income. For instance, almost half of the cardiologists’ income is accounted to the fees from imaging. Besides the profits generated by the CT scanners, blockages can also be observed. This is evident in patients who may not have symptoms of a disease; like heart disease (Finkler et al., 2007). The amount of revenue collected from CT scan procedures is incredibly high, giving a health facility a boost with regards to money. The machines are also able to ‘sell themselves’, meaning the excellent and accurate results have attracted more and more patients to using the procedure.

Improvement

Every management in any institution has a responsibility of improving the image of its institution as so is the Kendall health center management. CT scan being a modern technology comes with numerous benefits, which help in improving the health care sector. The machine can scan a variety of human anatomy areas, hence no need for many different machines for all the body organs. This, in turn, improves the efficiency of the health facility as the procedures are done faster and more accurately. Institutions applying the CT scan technology are often flooded with patients, since they believe the machine is highly effective (Pett, 2010). More patients mean increased revenues, which are significant in the improvement of the facility’s environment. The building structures, equipment and other health procedures are often improved in such facilities. The medical practitioners and physicians in these hospitals are also highly credible, making the entire health institution improved.

Productivity

The productivity of imaging equipment, for example, CT scan has attracted serious attention in health care sector. CT scan utilization and demand have increased over the last decade and are estimated to continue increasing tremendously. Several patients are interested in using the procedure and the number is growing larger daily. Health facilities may be forced to increase the number of CT scanners in hospitals, which is, however, expensive. Productivity of a CT scan can be measured with the number of patients the scanner is able to image on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Again, it can be measured according to the amount of examinations performed over the same time period. The procedure is capable of performing multiple examinations in a single sitting, for instance, abdomen, chest and pelvic CTs in one procedure (Boland, 2008). The patient and examination throughput are linked, hence the CT scan productivity is essential to note when investing in the machine. The productivity is evidently high and considering investment in the machine is a good decision. 

Quality Assurance

In the present era of managed health care and cost containment, most medical activities are performed technologically. Health facilities work with large numbers of patients, but small workforce, thus optimization of patient care is rather a challenge. Therefore, there is always a need for quality assurance for CT, which often educates the patients and medical practitioners of the successful outcomes and procedures expected. Before having a CT scan, patient should be assured of the standards and quality of the procedure. CT scan comes with three main quality assurance initiatives, for instance, a one-page introductory form that is designed for patients, and helps them understand the procedure before actual examination (Gary et al., 2006). The information in the page gives the patients significant details on issues like interpretation and reporting of images, dietary restrictions and appropriate examination times. The patient thus acknowledges the various requirements of the procedure before the examination. There is also a medical history questionnaire that is filled by the patient. From this, the CT specialist can identify any relevant information to potential diagnosis or complication. The patient’s history on any medical, allergy and surgical information is gathered and used appropriately during the procedure. An emergency work sheet is also used in quality assurance to enable CT specialists document any form of adverse reactions during the procedure (Berenson and Abelson, 2008). The appropriate interventions following adverse reactions are also recorded in the emergency work sheets. Therefore, CT scanners have relevant and appropriate quality assurance initiatives which enable the health care managements in achieving their goals.

Employee Development

This is one of the many goals and objectives of a health care management body. Investing in CT scanners can enhance the development of employees at a greater extent. Employees have to engage in training on utilization of CT scanners in order to keep the activities of the facility running (O’ Brien, 2009). Investing in this capital project will see many employees taking more classes and furthering their health care knowledge. Highly trained and experienced employees help develop the positive image of the health institution and the work force.

Management Services

The amount of services provided by the health care management is also increased and improved through this investment. Since the CT scan productivity is evidentially high, the services it provides to the patients are accurate and timely. A successful health facility is one that provides quality services to its clients. With a CT scan, hospitals and clinics are able to provide a wide array of services to patients, which are effective and accurate.

Contribution of CT scan to Economic Development of a Health Organization

The productivity of CT scans is high when considering the number of patients or the number of examinations performed by a single machine. Therefore, it is only logical to associate the procedure with increased economic successes. With regards to managerial goals like revenue and productivity, CT scanners contribute highly in these terms (Pett, 2010). Increased revenues and productivity mean that the economy of any health facility using the procedure is bound to develop. Many patients use the CT scan procedure in diagnosis and treatment cases; they thus pay heavily to cover their medical bills. Health institutions gain enough revenues to improve and develop their facility in terms of economic, structural and social aspects. Employees are also developed with the introduction of these machines. They get the chance to improve their medical care abilities making them more competent than before. Highly knowledgeable and experienced medical employees are bound to attract high numbers of patients, who in turn, contribute to the increased economic development of the organization through provision of revenues (Finkler et al., 2007). The large amount of revenue associated with investing in CT scanners is vital in the sense that the medical facility gets to save some of its revenues. This makes the institution able to face any form of financial crisis, for instance, recession without going bankrupt. 

How the CT scan can Support Organizational Goals

Health care organizations have goals, which they are bound to achieve and fulfilling them facilitates their successes. The prime goals and objectives of these organizations relate to their clients, the patients. Medical organizations have the responsibility of giving health care services to the community they serve. Hence any investment made should be directed at achieving the organizational goals of the health facility, for instance.

Patient Care

Every test, examination or treatment involving radiation is associated with some risks, and CT scan is no exception. The physicians are expected to order the test and first and foremost weigh the potential risks and benefits of the procedure. The physician should provide a procedure that does not expose a patient to unnecessary radiation. However, if the patient has interest in having a CT scan procedure, the physician has the duty of taking precautions of eliminating any potential risk (O’Brien, 2009). Several steps involved in ensuring patients’ safety are observed during the procedure. Every step involved in the CT scanning procedure is often shared with the patient to ensure his or her comfort ability. The procedures follow all the care guidelines for CT scan safety while implementing additional safety measures. Patient care is facilitated by the use of expert board certified radiologists, who engage in the interpretation of results. There are also examination protocols which are used in enabling machine diagnostic capabilities and incorporate reduced levels of doses. The CT scan technologists need to be licensed with the appropriate and credible working certificates (Borglum, 2008). They also need to be registered with the relevant bodies and subject to various educational and training procedures. Patient care is also achieved through the existence of proper quality assurance program, which maintains the credibility of CT scan operations. Additional safety measures with regards to patient care like ensuring the health care facility meet the medical standards and are in place. The employees working in the health organization also require being highly qualified in their fields of specialization. They should possess both education and certifications enabling their performance and interpretation of medical images (Glabman, 2005). The CT scan orders from patients are matched to a scan protocol that aims at ensuring that only the appropriate areas are scanned as per the clinical diagnosis. This protocol, in turn, helps in reducing the level of radiation exposure during patients’ experience with the CT scan.

CT scans also enable faster treatment of patients, for example, patients having severe injuries are required to be taken to the resus site for assessment and stabilization. From here, they are transferred to the CT scanner which acts fast by showing all the areas requiring medical attention. The machine is thus substantial in providing timely and accurate examinations and treatments where appropriate (Boland, 2008). Since the scanner is able to produce numerous results in a single sitting, there is always a reduction in the number of patients’ movement around the health institution. For trauma patients, the CT scanner is able to scan the entire body in about ten seconds, making it the fastest and the most appropriate procedure.

Medical and Allied Health Education

The patients in any health institution are to be educated on procedures of interest before the real process takes place. CT scan is a technique which requires close understanding by both the patient and physician. Investing in a CT scanner will come with immediate need for training of medical workers on the use and importance of the machine and procedure. There are both benefits and risks associated with CT scanning; therefore, medical organizations have the duty of educating both the patients and employees on these issues (Morales, 2009). The machine also comes with relevant manual information relating to its use, which is relevant for the physicians.

Community Services

Health care organizations have a medical responsibility to the community they serve. Therefore, investing in a CT scan is a step forward to fulfilling the responsibility of service provision to the community. A community served by such a health institution is bound to succeed health-wise since it has timely and accurate medical procedures. Treatments are offered fast to reduce instances of complications or deaths. Communities served with CT scanners are healthier than those without them, because the time factor is considered in the technologically advanced institutions.

Cost Containment

New imaging technologies used in diagnostic procedures, for instance, CT scan have borne serious scrutiny in the consideration of health care cost containment. The scrutiny can be associated with a history full of poor technologic questions and assessments. These criticisms are also related to the extents to which technological procedures promulgate patients’ health improvements; hence concerns of economic gain often precede medical gains of the procedures (Howrigon, 2008). Therefore, the market driven and legislative medical reforms require serious thought on investing in new technological imaging procedures in order to assess the benefits and costs more closely than before. CT scanning has experienced serious strains in terms of cost containment; however, medical organizations need to put necessary measures to help contain the costs of imaging. For instance, putting a brake on spending by the radiology department can help in reducing imaging costs. There is also the need for profiling, network requirements and halting proliferation of imaging machines. This is beneficial to health workers who invest in imaging equipment like CT scan, but may negatively affect the manufacturers. Preauthorization is an effective method of containing costs (Glabman, 2005). Cost containment is only possible when serious measures are taken against misuse of the CT scan and productivity of the procedure is increased further. Otherwise containing costs is strenuous due to the high costs of the machine and the frequent manner it is put in use.

Leadership Role

Leadership is essential in cases of CT scan procedures. Patients do not often know the benefits and risks they may face after receiving a CT scan. Therefore, the physicians have the responsibility to act as leaders and advice the patients appropriately with regards to the teats. A patient may want a CT scan, but saying no with no reason may make the patient uncomfortable. Thus there is need for proper process of educating the patients before any examination steps of the outcomes of CT scanning (Pett, 2010). The head radiologist is the top physician when dealing with CT scanners; hence any questions requiring clear explanation should be directed to him or her. With the proper application of leadership roles, health care facilities are bound to experience proper and effective use of CT scan procedures. This, in turn, attracts more patients to the hospital, which is advantageous economic-wise.

Clinical Research

Before the introduction of the procedure into the market and use by health practitioners, it passed several clinical trials. CT scanners have evolved from historical low profile equipment to the today’s advanced technological equipment. During the clinical research, CT scan was found to possess both pros and cons which are often experienced during its use. For instance, the pros include high speed of imaging, high stability, high definition of anatomic dimensions and HU, as well as lower cost compared to other imaging equipment (Boland, 2008). The cons as per the clinical research included high cost when compared to some procedures, high risks in terms of patient radiation exposure. The technique is also associated with standardization of functional imaging and changes in anatomical structures which may lead to late findings. However, the CT scan can produce high resolution three dimensional and four dimensional structures and organs. This provides a clear way of examining body organs and structures, thus enabling administration of appropriate treatment (Nnaji et al., 2010). Development of CT scans has also been effective in certain clinical researches where the machine is used as an intervention guidance system and research tool.

Benefits of CT scan to Health Organizations

CT scans have various benefits making them the most utilized imaging procedures in most health facilities. They are useful in determining when performing surgery is necessary. The procedure involves observation of the entire anatomy of a patient hence no need for physical surgery. After noting the areas with injuries or problems, the physician can act by correcting it appropriately. In case a surgery is needed, it is advisable to go with the doctor’s instructions (Gary et al., 2006). However, CT scanners are relevant in reducing instances of exploratory surgeries. The procedure is also fast and accurate hence reducing length of time needed to stay in hospitals. Since the equipment can help in observing most body parts, cancer diagnosis can be done faster thus engaging in treatment as well. The CT scanner apart from diagnosing the problems in human anatomy is also utilized in directing treatment of common disorders and conditions, for example, cardiac disease, injuries and stroke (Howrigon, 2008). It also helps in improving the placement of patients in to the proper care facilities, like intensive care units. 

Justification

The technology is beneficial in most parts of the health organizations as evident in the economic, social and medical advantages obtained. CT scanners help in achieving managerial goals like high productivity and revenues, development and improvement of employees and services provided by hospitals. Organizational goals are also met, where patient care is often the main objective of CT scan application. Perfect patient care is the ultimate organizational role of every medical and health, and with CT scan, hospitals provide accurate and timely results for diagnosis.

Conclusion

Computer tomography or CT scan is one of the top five medical technological developments in the previous 40 years. CT scan is considered a valuable medical diagnostic tool providing numerous advantages. The procedure is accurate in the sense that overlapping structures on the CT image are always eliminated to make the internal anatomy more clear and apparent. The procedure provides different medical information from other imaging techniques and has numerous benefits from them. With CT scan, there is a chance of obtaining images rapidly due to the immediate capture of human anatomy after inserting the body. The technique is also capable of producing specific and clear information relating to the body structure in question. A large portion of the body can be viewed using the diagnostic tool making it quite dependable. There is no other imaging tool that combines all the advantages into a single session like CT scan. The examination tool also cares for the community it serves enhancing health education among the beneficiaries. Therefore, it is substantial for health organization to acquire CT scanners to provide the wide range of benefits they offer. Investing in CT scan will enable the Kendall Regional Medical Center to meet its set goals in all sectors. Through achieving this, the health facility will have the capacity to handle numerous patients all the time.

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