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The too hard Radiology et al machine beds

Posted By Karma

"The too hard Radiology et al machine beds"

About: Box Hill Hospital

(as the patient),

I had an MRI early June and the bed seriously hurt me particularly one hip. Many people cannot tolerate such hard machine beds, those with bed sores, muscular skeletal diseases, MS etc. in an Ageing population this situation will only escalate.

Research shows that up to 40% of patients cannot tolerate the hard beds, as the high pressure shunts blood flow away from areas of the body creating ischemic pain often resulting in injury or prolonged pain. Operators have to stop start or send patient home to come back another time which is stressful on patient. Costly on our system. The 2 staff on the day came into room after stopping the machine and told me off for crying which I was apparently not allowed to do and because they had to stop machine - I was given an disrespectful dressing down. Going back to ambulance trolley I had to stand and transfer on an infected swollen foot to get into trolley. I whimpered in pain - the girl told me off telling me to stop ........... as it was hurting her hearing!

Solutions are here to stop staff working under such pressure time frames + blaming and getting disrespectful/bullying with patients. In USA for last 6-10 years they have had Patient Comfort Systems for MRI's, CT's, Xray machine beds which eliminate the problem. WE NEED THE SAME.

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Responses

Response from Alan Lilly, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 8 years ago
Alan Lilly
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health

Submitted on 1/07/2015 at 7:21 AM
Published on Care Opinion on 10/07/2015 at 5:53 PM

picture of Alan Lilly

Dear Karma

Thank you very much for your story and feedback regarding your experience whilst having an MRI at Box Hill Hospital. I am really sorry to read about this and that you experienced additional pain too. Discourteous behaviour is never acceptable. Whilst located at Box Hill Hospital, the MRI service is actually provided by an external Service provider, MIA so I will undertake to pass on your feedback to them and will also discuss with our own Director of Medical Imaging to see what we might also learn from your experience.

Receiving feedback directly from patients is so important for us in terms of understanding what we do well and where we need to improve so thank you for taking the time to share your story. I also agree with your comment about an ageing population and we certainly need to be planning well for that in the eastern region. Once again, please accept my apologies for your experience but please be reassured that I will follow-up with MIA and also with our own Medical Imaging Department.

Kind regards, Alan Lilly.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Alan Lilly, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 8 years ago
Alan Lilly
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health

Submitted on 1/07/2015 at 1:47 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 10/07/2015 at 5:53 PM

picture of Alan Lilly

Dear Karma

Just a quick update to let you know that I have heard from the Executive Director responsible, that this story of your experience is also going to be used as we plan for the next MRI installation at Maroondah Hospital. Thanks again and kind regards, Alan Lilly

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Update posted by Karma (the patient)

I am really pleased to see you will be considering my story when making changes at Maroondah Hospital. We need to take more preventative care on these machines in an ageing and disability population. Overseas countries have done exactly that by providing MRI safe pressure spine mats full length and cervical spine supports etc.

Thanks to all those who read this story. Many people will be coming to Box Hill Hospital MRI in the next year before the new Maroondah MRI........ how can we save patient/staff injury in the meantime? We appreciate not just Box Hill Hospital machines of CT, Xray, Fluroscopy Pick line machines giving the pressure problems.

Every time a machine is stopped or a patient call back (18% to 54% of patients) it is costing our health system huge dollars - therefore preventative MRI et al safe pressure protection mats would be more than cost effective. There is a foot stool MRI compatible with a handle like a bed pole so that patients can assist themselves off/on the MRI et al beds without the staff worrying about injury. I don't want them injured either.

How can we start the buying of MRI, CT, Xray safe patient pressure preventative spinal mats as above. Plus the MRI safe stool saving staff backs? At least one or two spinal pressure mats per hospital so patients can alert staff to have them available on the day? We need preventative action now.

Is it difficult to find $6000 now to buy the above mats and to trail them at Box Hill Hospital and Angliss Hospital?

Let me know through Patient Opinion what I can do to further this matter immediately, to stop the suffering the health care cost. Let me know to whom at the appropriate Department State or Federal or both I can request action on buying of the patient pressure mats.

MIA contacted me and is investigating poor staff behaviour, thank you.

I would like to thank you Mr Lilly for your efforts and attention in regards to this matter.

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