| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| August 18, 2006 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
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| Lisa Pollard, RTR CT, Operations Coordinator for Computed Tomography at St. Luke's Hospital, scans a patient in the new 64-slice CT scanner. | |
Southcoast Hospitals Group has purchased new multi-slice CT scanners for each of its hospital sites. The new CT scanner uses 64 "slices" or imaging planes to gather detailed information about the organs. The scan is performed faster than previous multi-detector CT scanners, and is able to produce sharp, clear, three-dimensional pictures of any organ and the blood vessels in approximately 5 seconds. The 64-slice CT scanners are the first of their kind to be offered in the South Coast region.
"The new 64-slice CT scanner allows the physician to see more detail in a fraction of the time," said Debra Desmarais, Director of Radiology Imaging Services for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The ability to identify diseases or abnormalities at an early stage will help physicians make an accurate diagnosis and quickly recommend appropriate treatment for their patients."
A CT scan produces a cross-sectional image of the human anatomy. This helps the clinician to rule out or confirm the presence of certain disease, and in trauma patients, in some cases, to evaluate the extent of injuries to a trauma patient.
"Shorter scanning times have greatly improved the quality of CT images. This is because we are able to reduce both breathing and motion artifacts," Desmarais said.
The CT scan is a non-invasive test. During the test, the patient is placed on a table and moved incrementally through the squared off donut-shaped scanner while an X-ray beam is projected through cross sections of their anatomy. This information is then sent to a specialized computer that reconstructs the information into individual slices and combines them sequentially into a multiple images of the entire area scanned. The new CT scanner takes "thinner" slices producing more detailed and definitive exam results. The scans are acquired and evaluated under the guidance of Southcoast's highly trained technologists and radiologists.
Additional benefits
All CT scanners use X-rays, however the new Philips CT scanner uses a significantly lower amount of X-ray energy than many of the other CT systems. Overall the X-ray dose is low and the benefits of the scan notably outweigh the exposure.
Another benefit of the new unit is the ability to provide larger patients with a CT scan option. The new Southcoast CT scanners have an increased table weight capacity as compared to other CT units within the region.
"It is important that we provide our patients with the latest technology in the most comfortable setting possible." said Desmarais. "The newer units are patient friendly taking into account many factors. We have also made adjustments to the environment with softer lighting and by replacing ceiling panels with calming pictures of blue sky and clouds."
The new 64-slice CT scanners are manufactured by Philips Medical Systems. Each of the three hospital sites will house a 64-slice CT scanner by December. The scanners at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham are currently operational. The additional scanners will be available in the new St. Luke's emergency department this fall and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River early December.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of advanced health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast has more than 40 ancillary facilities, including the Southcoast Health Van, home health care, hospice and infusion services, numerous outpatient medical services, an assisted living facility and a wellness center. For more information visit www.southcoast.org.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
