New advanced CT scanner helps CMH  diagnose cardiovascular disease earlier
Patients will benefit from more definitive, non-invasive exams

Columbia Memorial Hospital has added a state-of-the-art multi-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner to their newly constructed medical office building. The hospital's new Brilliance CT scanner features advanced technology that produces split-second, high quality images,  permitting doctors to see more anatomical detail in a fraction of the time needed for other tests.             

With this new CT scanner, physicians at Columbia  Memorial will be able to more effectively detect and treat a range of life threatening illnesses including cardiovascular disease, the nation's leading  killer. The possibility of discovering heart and vascular disease in an early stage, before the onset of serious symptoms, will help doctors recommend the most effective treatment options and lifestyle changes to reduce risk and perhaps save lives, according to a hospital spokesperson.

  "The new technology's acquisition speed makes advanced applications such as cardiovascular imaging and whole  body CT angiography (CTA) routine," says Rhonda Makoske, Director of Medical Imaging at Columbia Memorial.

 "We can obtain whole heart examinations in just seconds. With the speed and specialized software of this new scanner, we can, in most cases, avoid invasive procedures to detect  cardiovascular disease. We can now offer definitive, non-invasive  cardiovascular exams."

Patients needing a CT scan will find that Columbia Memorial's new scanner offers a much more pleasant experience. Having your heart and coronary arteries evaluated using a CT scanner reduces the need for drugs to regulate the rhythm of the heart. And there is no hospital stay required. With faster scan times patients will usually be asked to carry out one brief breath hold during each scan.
   
"Older patients and those with breathing  difficulties or some other distress will really appreciate the shorter exams," says Makoske.

 "We'll have them in and out much faster, and their doctors will be able to access detailed, definitive results within minutes, either at the hospital exam station or via digital readouts from our new PACS system."  

PACS is an acronym for Picture Archiving and Communication system. Images acquired are immediately sent to computer where they are archived forever within a patients electronic file, complete with report information attached. Images can be viewed by radiologists and referring physicians. Exams can be burned onto CD and brought to physician to be viewed. What is significant about this are: the images are available immediately to the physician, there are no lost films, and with the exam on CD, there’s no need to return to the facility" says Makoske.

 “Our new Brilliance scanner also features technology called Dose Wise which ensures that we get exceptional images with the least amount of radiation to the patient. And, it has specific built-in pediatric protocols that further minimize the dose to children," she says.

"Our new Brilliance scanner features technology that ensures we get exceptional images with  significantly lower dose to the patient. And, it has specific built-in pediatric protocols that further minimize the dose to children," she says.

 Another advantage the hospital anticipates is the ability to provide more large patients with a CT scan option. The new  Brilliance scanner has a table weight capacity of up to 450 lbs.
  
"In the past, being able to handle some larger patients was sometimes a challenge, because most equipment simply can't accommodate them," says Makoske.

"With the Brilliance CT, we can handle the additional body weight, and those patients will be able to benefit from this great diagnostic technology as well."

A CT scan produces a cross-sectional image of the human anatomy which helps the physician to rule out or confirm the presence of certain disease, and in some cases to evaluate the extent of  injuries to a trauma patient, such as someone involved in an automobile accident. During the non-invasive 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. The X-ray energy passes through the patient and is recorded on electronic detectors in the scanner. This information is then sent to a specialized computer that reconstructs the information into individual slices and combines them sequentially into a comprehensive volume image of the entire area scanned. The thinner the slices, the more revealing the detail is in the resulting images, and the more definitive the exam results.

For more  information about new technology innovations and how they might help you, call  Columbia Memorial's Medical Imaging department at 828.8530.

 

---

Events & News - Job Opportunities - Community Health - Kaaterskill Care - Hospital Foundation - Services
About The Hospital - Departments - Family Care Centers - Physician Directory - Contact Us

71 Prospect Ave. Hudson, NY 12534 - 518-828-7601 fax: 518-828-8525
info@ColumbiaMemorial.com - Hospital Disclaimer