The services provided by the HIRO's Image Acquisition Team can be found below. These services are primarily related to the planning and execution of research scans/exams.

Core Acquisition Services

The HIRO's Acquisition Team can provide several "core" services for your research study or clinical trial to ensure that your imaging is performed in accordance with your study's protocol. These services include an initial review of your study's imaging requirements, the assignment of key imaging personnel including a primary radiologist, the selection of appropriate billing codes and exam scheduling parameters, and monitoring of the exam scheduling and billing process to ensure compliance.

Imaging Site Initiation and Qualification

Some research studies, particularly clinical trials, may require our site to undergo an initiation or qualification procedure before patients may be enrolled or scanned in the study. The HIRO can coordinate this process to ensure that it is completed in a timely and accurate manner. Site qualification procedures often include some or all of the following:

Site Surveys

Study sponsors will often require sites to complete surveys or questionnaires that collect information about available imaging equipment and personnel. These surveys will often ask for specific information concerning the make, model and features of our imaging equipment, and they will occasionally require that we identify specific imaging technologists or managers as responsible for the study's imaging. The HIRO can complete these documents quickly and accurately.

Tele-Training Sessions

Study sponsors will occasionally require that imaging personnel (technologists, radiologists, etc) undergo a tele-training session or participate in a tele-conference to learn about the study's imaging requirements. The HIRO can assist with the coordination and completion of these training sessions.

Test Scans

Study sponsors will occasionally require that we perform a "test scan" or "test submission" to demonstrate image quality and scan protocol compliance. They may require that the test scan be performed on a human volunteer or on a special piece of imaging equipment called a "phantom." Sometimes they will ask that we simply submit an anonymized copy of a recent scan performed at the Medical Center that follows their general imaging guidelines. The HIRO can coordinate and submit any type of test scan that is required. Please note that the Radiology Department has policies relating to the performance and cost of test scans, and the HIRO strictly adheres to these policies.

Sponsor Site Visits

Study sponsors often require a site visit prior to subject enrollment, and occasionally the visit will require a tour through the relevant areas of the Radiology Department. The HIRO can coordinate the imaging portions of a sponsor site visit.

Custom Imaging Protocol Development

If your research study or clinical trial requires specific or customized imaging protocols, the HIRO can work with you and the Radiology Department (or the relevant imaging lab) to determine if these requirements are feasible and to implement them as appropriate. This includes programming study-specific scanner settings, developing a customized workflow for study scans, and consulting with radiologists, imaging technologists and physicists to design and implement the necessary imaging protocols.

Special Equipment/Personnel/Image Requirements

Study sponsors may occasionally mandate that only a specific piece of imaging equipment be used to perform study scans, that only select technologists perform study scans, or that only certain scan sequences be submitted for review. The HIRO can determine if this is feasible given the study's requirements and ensure compliance where appropriate.

Routine Phantom Scans

Study sponsors may mandate that "phantom scans" (specialized test scans performed using calibration equipment) be performed at routine intervals throughout the study. The HIRO can determine if this is feasible given the study's requirements and assist with implementation where appropriate.

Active Scan Monitoring

When required, a HIRO staff member will be present to monitor a research study scan while it is being performed to ensure compliance and help resolve any issues that may arise. HIRO staff will also follow up with imaging technologists and managers upon completion of a research scan to improve the acquisition process and investigate any issues that may have occurred.