|
|
|
PGRH unveils new CT scanner |
|
|
Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
|
|
Monday, 06 October 2008 |
Scott McLaren, bio-medicine engineer, demonstrates the new Toshiba CT scanner, with Mira Rosche, CT technologist, left, and Leslie Harvey, CT tech supervisor, at the unveiling of the new machine Monday at Prince George Regional Hospital. (Citizen photo by David Mah)
Related Items
NORTHERN HEALTHPRINCE GEORGE REGIONAL HOSPITAL
The Toshiba Aquilion 320 detector, which is only in five Canadian cities, was officially unveiled Monday after two weeks of use. Staff and technicians say the $2 million-machine is able to quickly diagnosing patients with chest pain, cancer and strokes.
Acquiring the machine "is quite a feat," said Dr. Firas Mansour, internal specialist. "We are the envy of Vancouver right now."
Up to this point, many northern patients presenting with chest pain have had to go to Vancouver for angiogram diagnosis, but now that can be done here in 20 minutes, even though many patients may still have to go to Vancouver for treatment such as angioplasty, he said.
Dr. Nicholas Lamb, head of the Imaging Department, said the opportunities the new scanner open up are phenomenal from cardiac diagnosis to research to scanning a tiny baby in less than a second, reducing the need to sedate. Up to now, such testing would require the baby and family members to travel to Vancouver.
The machine is paid for by $1.5 million from the B.C. government's Health Innovation Fund and $500,000 by Northern Health and the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District.
Two imaging technicians, Leslie Harvey and Mira Rosche, underwent four weeks of intensive training in Japan to operate the scanner and now they will train other technicians at PGRH.
"The equipment is working excellent," said Harvey, noting it has the power to scan "the whole heart in one heart beat."
The 4,400-pound machine can measure subtle changes in blood flow and minute blockages forming in blood vessels which are no bigger than the average width of toothpick in the heart and the brain. The scanner has a volume capacity to scan 25 to 30 patients per day.
The new machine is the second CT scanner at PGRH where more than 10,000 scans a year have been performed.
Prince George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond said a total of 240,000 scans were done in 2001 in B.C., but this year, with 49 CT scanners in place, 420,000 scans have been done so far this year.
"We're increasing capacity by putting the equipment in centralized locations like PGRH," she said.
Located near the scanning room is a new patient care area with three cardiac monitors and three beds.
Debbie Johnston, medical imaging nurse, said prior to scans, patients come to the area where intravenous is started, vital signs are taken, any necessary medication is given and they are placed on a monitor.
"Following the scan they come back here for 15 to 30 minutes where they are again monitored and given a snack before they leave since they have been required to fast."
 |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 190 guests and 12 members online
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
