With a history of investing in technology that will benefit patient populations, NRMC has once again added to its imaging capabilities. The hospital has replaced its 64-slice CT scanner with a 128-slice CT scanner, the GE Revolution CT ES.
“Slice” refers to the number of rows of detectors the scanner has. The more detectors, the bigger the volume coverage and faster scanning times. With the new scanner, the Radiology team can also perform 256-slice reconstruction.
The new scanner works well for imaging adults as well as children and all body weights and sizes. Designed to enhance care for difficult patient care situations, this scanner allows ease of positioning, patient comfort, and quickness while generating precise, highly detailed images.
“Our goal at NRMC is to continually improve patient outcomes,” noted Kirk Soileau, CEO. “Our clinical teams can work at record speeds now and get excellent images which leads to prompt diagnosis and treatment. I want to congratulate our Radiology Department on their work in bringing this technology to fruition here at NRMC. They saw a need for additional CT technology for complex cases and made recommendations for us to move forward. We are confident these new CT imaging capabilities will benefit many patients, especially those with critical care and specialized health needs.”
Emergency Care
“When patients come in with traumatic injuries or strokes, it can be difficult for them to remain still for very long or follow instructions like pausing their breathing – both of which are necessary to get a good CT image,” explained Derek Anthony RT(R) CT, NRMC Radiology Manager. “The 128-slice CT scanner is so much faster and creates incredibly detailed images within minutes which is a huge advantage for trauma patients. “
Cardiac Care
Using a high-resolution mode at standard radiation doses, the scanner produces images of stents and coronary plaque in amazing detail. For patients with variable heart rates, it can be difficult to reliably obtain high quality images. This scanner enables high-definition, motion-free coronary images at any heart rate. This becomes an excellent tool for imaging patients with arrhythmia and other cardiac issues.
Stroke Care
For diagnosing strokes, the scanner quickly produces those first images of the brain allowing physicians to start treatments sooner and thereby save the brain from further stroke-related damage. There are several distinct advantages in terms of clarity, accuracy and speed over older technology.
Cancer Care
For oncology patients, the 128-slice CT scanner provides greater diagnostic capabilities with an easier way for radiologists to read, review and interpret images. This capability is particularly needed for complex tumor cases so that doctors have the ability to see as much detail, texture and margins as possible.
Radiologists need to be able to diagnose even the tiniest fractures and breaks with confidence for orthopedic patients. High resolution imaging captures twice the number of views per rotation to deliver a significant improvement in resolution, making it much easier to diagnose a fracture. For fractures and dislocations that may require surgical interventions, plus follow-ups to determine healing – the 128-slice CT scanner provides high-quality diagnostic images at low doses.
For more information on imaging, visit NRMChospital.org.
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