SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOGAre you ready to receive your new CT scanner? How to begin the installation process?
A CT scanner machine installation process is more than just placing the machine on the spot in a healthcare facility. There are several potential pitfalls that you can encounter during the process, which demand thorough planning in advance to eliminate them.
You need to consider a lot of factors if you want to save yourself from huge trouble in the long run. Deciding on the desired CT scanner machine won’t be enough to ensure running it successfully.
In this article, we will be shedding light on such factors that need the utmost attention when you prepare for the installation process of your new CT scanner machine.
Let’s get started.
Installation process of your new CT scanner machine
Optimum power supply
A CT scanner machine has certain power requirements such as line voltage, branch power, supply configuration, and circuit breakers that should comply with all applicable local & national electric codes. Every CT scanner has different requirements for these factors, which should be kept in mind while designing the power supply for this medical equipment. Additionally, it is recommended that you include at least one emergency power-off button in the examination room.
Efficient installation with no downtime
While planning for a new CT scanner machine installation, you would decide on stopping patient services during the process. However, this is unnecessary.
With a proactive team of contractors and personnel in the facility, you can choose to proceed with the installation of the CT scanner when the facility is at its lowest busy hours. You can keep attending to the patient and continue providing optimal patient care without having to shut down the entire healthcare office for your new machine installation process.
You can also choose to get this task done during the weekends which would eliminate any inconvenience that can be caused to the patient.
Choose a CT scanners system delivery route
Have you given a thought to how you will transfer the CT scanner to its exact location in the healthcare facility?
You need to plan for the exact pathway you are going to take for safe and efficient delivery of your expensive medical equipment.
It is important to shift the attention to its route to protect the facility’s floor, avoid any chaos at the facility and even safeguard the machine from any damage.
Shielding requirements
Since a CT scan machine will be utilizing radiation for scans, its examination room must be shielded to absorb them. The standards say that the height of the ceilings for a CT scanner examination room should be at least 8 feet.
For the room on top, the dose rate is calculated at 0.5 meters above the floor, while for the rooms below the exam rooms, it is calculated at 1.7 meters above the floor. You need to add more shielding to the nursing stations, vertical barriers, and even the control room.
Here, the CT scanner and the patient projected to the radiation are its highest source to the public and the personnel at the healthcare facility. Thus, it is important to install portable lead shields that can be used to protect patients in uptake rooms.
Moreover, the walls of the CT scanner examination room itself require 0.5 to 1-inch lead doors that should have 0.25 to 0.5 inches lead. In the case of viewing windows, ensure that the material used is glass or acrylic. Any spacing between the floors and uncontrolled areas must be shielded precisely to stop the passage of radiation out of the room.
Do not wrap up without system calibration.
System calibration is the most important step of the CT scanner installation process. It will be done by a calibration engineer on the final day of this medical equipment installation to match the system to OEM specifications. They will also check the entire machine for any challenges to ensure that it is patient-ready.
Once the engineer completes calibrating the machine, they will walk you and the person who would be operating the machine with its basic operations and components. You can also call it a system demonstration of use which is a general tutorial for you to get started without any obstacles. However, if you wish to enhance the expertise level of your staff, you will have to call experts to your facility to train them intensively.
Check the documentation
Before you wrap up the installation process, you will have to fill out some forms offered by the calibrating engineer. You will have to sign a form that illustrates your satisfaction with the installation job and acceptance of the same.
Read it thoroughly and check if everything is done on-site as narrated in the form. It will be your chance to conduct a final inspection for the system approval on site.
Be prepared!
The CT scanner installation process isn’t challenging if you prepare for it well in advance. Keep the above-discussed tips in mind, and you won’t face any halt in the entire process.
In case you are looking for an expert team who can responsibly handle it all for you, connect with us, and we won’t leave a thing for you to worry about.
To get further information about pre-owned and refurbished medical equipment please feel free to call us at +1 586 917 0245 or email us at sales@kbdentalconsulting.com.
