Goal Is Improvement in Efficiency and Speed of Reporting 

August 22, 2005, Bridgeport, CT - St.Vincent's Medical Center has installed two multi-slice CT scanners, two ultrasound machines, and a nuclear medicine camera and has constructed an interventional radiology suite in the Department of Radiology. The new equipment required the Hospital to undergo extensive construction and renovation, and has resulted in a department with state-of-the-art technology, which offers more user-friendly options for patients and healthcare professionals, according to Kevin Dickey, MD, chairman of the Department of Radiology.

The new General Electric 16- and 32-slice CTs produce larger numbers of slices; thus, images can be viewed in many different planes as a "volume" rather than only slice-by-slice. Moreover, exam throughput is enhanced by the speed of the new devices. 

"The 16-slice scanner performs an abdominal CT in half the time of conventional CT, and the 32-slice performs even faster with expanded clinical applications. This advancement gives us the capability to perform highly detailed studies of the vascular system, including the coronary arteries, as well as other new applications," said Dr. Dickey. 

The new equipment is enhanced by the implementation of the Emageon Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The PACS, which went live in June, has brought St. Vincent's closer to the digital age of high quality filmless imaging.  

"Physicians can now access images via computers in their offices or homes, even more reliably than what was previously available on the Stentor PACS," said Dr. Dickey.  "MRI, CT scan and ultrasound have stopped developing films, and soon diagnostic radiology also will become all-digital."