Improving pediatric CT / MRI experience in Department of Radiology

Children are not simply small adults. Diagnostic imaging can be an intimidating experience for pediatric patients due to unfamiliar equipment, loud scanner noises, prolonged examination times, and fear of separation from parents. Anxiety often leads to poor cooperation, motion artifacts, repeat imaging, increased need for sedation, delays in workflow, and significant emotional stress for both children and their families. Traditionally, imaging workflows have been optimized for operational efficiency rather than the unique emotional and developmental needs of children. Parents frequently reported apprehension before CT and MRI examinations, while healthcare teams faced challenges in balancing image quality, patient safety, and a positive patient experience.

At Ruby Hall Clinic, we recognized that delivering clinical excellence extends beyond producing diagnostic-quality images. A successful imaging examination should also foster trust, minimize fear, and create a reassuring environment for every child. This realization prompted the development of a comprehensive Pediatric CT & MRI Experience Initiative that integrates compassionate care, child-friendly communication, family participation, workflow redesign & optimizing technology into routine imaging services.

The initiative was conceived with the belief that healthcare outcomes should not be measured solely by scan volumes, turnaround times, or academic achievements, but also by the comfort, confidence, and positive memories created for children and their families during their healthcare journey.

Reduce anxiety and fear associated with CT and MRI examinations.

Improve cooperation during imaging, thereby minimizing motion-related repeat scans.

Reduce the need for sedation wherever clinically appropriate.

Enhance parent and caregiver confidence through effective communication and involvement.

Standardize pediatric-friendly workflows across the radiology department.

Improve patient and family satisfaction while maintaining operational efficiency and diagnostic excellence.

Ensure sedation free CT imaging.

Foster a culture where empathy and compassionate care are embedded into everyday radiology practice.

A multidisciplinary team comprising radiologists, pediatricians, technologists, nurses, and support staff redesigned the pediatric imaging journey using a patient-centered approach. Key interventions included:

Development of age-appropriate communication strategies to explain imaging procedures in simple, reassuring language.

Familiarization of children with CT and MRI environments before scanning to reduce fear of unfamiliar equipment.

Creation of child-friendly imaging spaces with visual distractions, comforting décor, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Encouragement of parental participation whenever feasible to provide emotional reassurance.

Staff training focused on pediatric communication, behavioral techniques, and compassionate care.

Workflow modifications to minimize waiting times and prioritize children requiring additional emotional support.

Continuous review through patient and caregiver feedback to identify opportunities for improvement and sustain best practices.

Rather than introducing isolated changes, the initiative embedded compassion into routine workflows, ensuring that every child receives individualized, respectful, and reassuring care without compromising diagnostic quality or operational efficiency.

Since the installation of our dedicated pediatric CT scanner in June 2023, no child has required sedation or general anesthesia for CT examinations, representing a 100% avoidance of CT sedation while maintaining diagnostic image quality. This has significantly enhanced patient safety by eliminating anesthesia-related risks, reducing recovery time, shortening hospital stay, and improving the overall patient and family experience. The implementation of AI-accelerated MRI protocols has substantially reduced scan acquisition times across pediatric MRI examinations. Shorter examinations have improved patient cooperation, reduced motion-related artifacts, and significantly decreased the need for anesthesia in appropriately selected children. Consequently, workflow efficiency has improved while maintaining consistently high diagnostic quality. Beyond measurable clinical outcomes, families have reported greater confidence and satisfaction with the imaging process.

Children experience less anxiety, parents remain more reassured, and staff are able to deliver compassionate, child-centred care without compromising operational efficiency. The initiative demonstrates that combining technology with empathetic workflows can simultaneously improve patient safety, imaging quality, and patient experience.

IMPACT

• 0 pediatric CT sedations from June 2023 to present
• Total number of pediatric CT scans performed: 844)
• Average MRI scan time reduction with AI: (eg : MRI brain from 35 minutes to 10 minutes,

The primary challenge was changing the traditional perception that pediatric CT and MRI frequently require sedation. Achieving this required redesigning imaging workflows to focus on the emotional and developmental needs of children while maintaining high diagnostic standards. Critical success factors included strong team work & execution from the Department of Radiology, collaboration between radiologists, pediatricians, technologists, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and hospital administration, and the adoption of advanced imaging technologies. AI-enabled MRI protocols shortened scan duration, while dedicated pediatric communication techniques, family involvement, child-friendly environments, and experienced technologists improved patient cooperation. Regular team feedback, continuous staff training, and a shared commitment to compassionate care ensured sustained implementation. The initiative succeeded because patient experience was treated as an integral component of clinical excellence rather than an additional service.

Our experience demonstrated that pediatric imaging outcomes depend as much on how care is delivered as on the imaging technology itself. Child-centred communication, family engagement, workflow redesign, and advanced technologies together can dramatically reduce the need for sedation while improving patient comfort and diagnostic quality. The initiative reaffirmed that compassionate care and operational excellence are complementary rather than competing goals. Standardizing these practices has created a sustainable model that can be replicated across other imaging services and healthcare institutions. The project has strengthened our culture of patient-centred care and aligns closely with NABH principles of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.