Foreword

The X-ray unit is changing. It is becoming more mobile with the ability to get out into the community. Doing so has enormous benefits for patients and staff, but it requires a fresh approach to design.

Our opening two articles come from Solutions for tomorrow who provide the cutting edge !M1 mobile X-ray Unit. As we’ll discover, this is ground-breaking in a number of ways. First it transitions from a traditional lead acid battery to a lithium-based battery similar to those used in the automotive industry. This gives it a much longer battery life with much faster charging than their competitors. It reduces the time needed to prepare the device. Just 30 minutes of charging gives it several hours of operation and allows it to deliver 24/7 availability.

As they go on to demonstrate, longer battery life also paves the way for what they call ‘True X-ray Mobility ® ’, as they take the unit outside of the hospital. One high profile project recently saw them using that mobility for the World Rally Cross Championships. But on a more mundane day to day level, it will see the device taken to care homes and primary care centres to create the more integrated care that health services are looking for.

Elsewhere in this Report, we’ll look at the importance of image quality. Poor images make it more difficult for radiologists trying to make a diagnosis. This increases the risk of error and also leads to more rescans. Inevitably, patient outcomes suffer, and expenses grow.

The good news is that technology is on the move. Images are becoming clearer and in the future radiologists will have more tools at their disposal to support the decision-making process such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Finally, Jo Roth will examine some of the issues hospitals need to consider when choosing mobile X-ray units. Aside from just mobility there are issues such as design, hygiene and even aesthetics, all of which have important roles to play in delivering better care.

Greater mobility in X-rays is one of those features which plays into the future direction of healthcare. It creates a bridge between primary and secondary care and brings technology which would have required a visit to the radiology department direct to the patient. It can save money, improve outcomes and make patients more comfortable and satisfied with their treatment. As such, it’s one of those technologies which will shape the future of healthcare.

Tom Cropper Editor

Tom Cropper has produced articles and reports on various aspects of global business over the past 15 years. He has also worked as a copywriter for some of the largest corporations in the world, including ANZ Bank, ING and KPMG.