R A H H   I M A G I N G   D E P A R T M E N T Image is Everything The new CT scanner at Roseau Area Hospital is able to scan 16 slices of any body part simultaneously. It replaces an older CT scanner with spiral technology which is now considered nearly obsolete.

A sample of the various views acquired by the new scanner.

It was only a few short years ago that Roseau Area Hospital and Homes
acquired its first CT scanner, an impressive piece of technology that allows nearly instant digital images of the human body’s interior.
In fact, it was in September 2000 that the very first CT scanner was purchased for Roseau Area Hospital. Prior to that, a mobile unit visited the
facility two days a week.

Today, that first equipment is nearly obsolete due to rapid improvements
in technology.

Not to be left behind in the digital revolution, Roseau Area Hospital has
made the leap from its spiral-image scanner to the next generation of
multi-slice CT scanners.

“Actually, we opted to go right to the 16 slice CT rather than the 4 slice,” says Shar Peterson, Director of Imaging Services at the hospital’s Imaging Department. “This will allow us to progress with new procedures in the next few years.”

Sandie Pfeiffer R.T.(R)M studies a monitor in the control booth as Mary Anderson R.T.(R) adjusts the settings on the hospital’s new CT scanner.

The 16 slices she refers to is the actual volume from which images are simultaneously achieved during the CT scan, Peterson says.

“Our first CT scanner gave us a single axial image to interpret, which at the time was a great accomplishment in digital imaging. However, this new CT scanner allows us to examine a specific body area by reconstruction, essentially giving us 3-D imaging,” she explains. “In turn, this leads to better
diagnosis because there is so much more information to work with.”

Added Benefits
In addition to improved resolution and reconstruction, the new Siemens Sensation 16 CT scanner produces images in less time.A scan that once took 45 seconds can now be done in 13.

“Faster imaging means greater comfort for the patient during the scan. Just imagine having to hold your breath for 45 seconds without moving in order to perform a scan.”

Seldom was that a possibility. So patients, especially children, had to be sedated.

“Now there is little need for sedation, because the scan is typically done before you know it,” says Peterson.

Another benefit of the new scanner is a lower dose of radiation, which is now based on body thickness. Also the contrast, or dye, is reduced by the use of a new dual head injector, putting less stress on the patient’s kidneys.

“This scanner has bolus tracking,” says Peterson. “It assures the contrast is in the correct anatomic region before it commences the scan, thus providing perfect image quality every time.”

In Good Company
With the new 16-slice CT scanner, Roseau Area Hospital joins the ranks of a prestigious list of hospitals that have this type of scanner. The list includes 11 of the top 15 teaching hospitals in the United States, including Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts General, Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, UCLA Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, Stanford, and New York Presbyterian.

“That is an impressive statistic for an organization of our size,” says Keith Okeson, President and CEO of Roseau Area Hospital and Homes. To protect the scanner from obsolescence, the manufacturer offers a program which constantly upgrades the system software and computer hardware for 36 months.

“There’s no question that technology is constantly changing. For Roseau Area Hospital to be on the leading edge of digital imaging is a testament to this organization’s mission of providing the best quality service available,” says Okeson.

Teleradiology
Of course even the fastest CT scan is of little value if it cannot be interpreted.To ensure timely results, Roseau Area Hospital continues to partner with several off-site radiologists to provide speedy interpretation of images.The process is known as teleradiology.

“We do this by uploading our images to the hospital computer’s main server,” explains Peterson. “These images can then be viewed almost instantly by radiologists throughout the world, namely our NightHawk service in Australia.”
Most of RAHH’s radiology services are contracted with Medical Imaging North and its radiologists Dr. Daniel Courneya and Dr. Daniel Vechell of Hibbing, Minnesota.

“These professionals are very involved with our Imaging Department. Dr. Courneya, has been instrumental in bringing teleradiology and 16-slice CT technology to Roseau Area Hospital,” she says. “The teleradiologists that we contract with in Australia are U.S. trained with quality control programs in place.”

All images read by the NightHawk service are interpreted a second time by Medical Imaging North for a final reading.

“That’s the advantage of teleradiology,” she says. “Location is no longer an issue.”

It also means Roseau Area Hospital and Homes can provide the same complex procedures offered in larger medical facilities.

“We provide the exact same service right here in Roseau County.”

To learn more about the Imaging Department at Roseau Area Hospital, call
(218) 463-2500.