Radiology Department Adds New Ultrasound and CT Equipment

CT

The Radiology Department is updating CT system. The new system, the LightSpeed VCT from GE Healthcare, is scheduled to be installed on March 26. This addition along with a system upgrade to our existing 16-slice CT unit will provide patients and physicians with the very latest in CT technology and ensure better image quality while delivering the most advanced CT applications available.

The LightSpeed VCT, the world’s first volume 64-slice CT system, captures images of a beating heart in five heartbeats, an organ in one second and performs whole body trauma in ten seconds – this is more than twice as fast as conventional multi-slice CT scanners. This speed will aid in throughput, efficiency and procedure time. Improving scan times and post processing will deliver more consistent protocols and a higher standard of care.

"Replacing the four-slice scanner with a 64-slice scanner will allow for state-of-the-art imaging of both inpatients and outpatients at the Hospital," says Marla Polger, MD. "The CT Department will gain greater efficiency and flexibility allowing us to increase our CT volume and patient throughout. This technology will also allow us to establish a cardiac CT angiography program. The upgrade to a 16-slice scanner will significantly increase the productivity of our CT technologists and allow for greater consistency among the different scanners."

Ultrasound

Ultrasound recently added four new Siemens ACUSON S2000 and two new Siemens ACUSON Antares units, which will help improve capacity, ultrasound imaging capabilities and provide 3D and 4D imaging technology. The ACUSON S2000 Virtual Touch tissue imaging and Virtual Touch tissue enhance workflow in clinical applications across general imaging, obstetrics and gynecology and vascular and cardiac imaging. The new ACUSON Antares ultrasound imaging system with 4D capabilities provides physicians and patients with real time images during obstetrics, abdominal and vascular ultrasound exams.

"The new machines are compact and lightweight and more ergonomically adaptive for our sonographers," says Leah Schafer, MD. "They will increase speed and efficiency by their faster functionality, reduced keystrokes in typing, by applying imaging parameters and by a new technology utilizing automated obstetric measurements. The new machines bring 3D and 4D ultrasound to Women's Imaging, a function that provides more insight and diagnostic capability in the realm of obstetric and pelvic ultrasound."

Key service goals in the Radiology Department include up-to-date technology, report turnaround, ease of scheduling and availability. These advances in technology and capacity will give the referring clinician improved access and increased clinical applications for accessing care and diagnosis and allow for a higher level of service. For questions or comments, contact Jil Perlmutter at ext. 6069 or Ian Quinn at ext. 5294.