 |
|
|
|
Volume 14,
Issue 5 |
A
publication of Roseau Area Hospital and Homes, Inc |
December -
January 2009 |
|
LifeCare’s Imaging Dept.
adds full-field digital
mammography
 LifeCare
Medical Center
has added
full-field
digital
mammography to
its Imaging
Department,
making it one of
the few rural
hospitals in
Minnesota, and
possibly the
nation, to offer
high-resolution
imaging
capabilities to
its patients on
site.
“Women in our
service area
will now be able
to receive
mammograms that
are of
remarkable
clarity,” says
Shar Peterson,
Director of
Imaging at LifeCare, “and
that will
hopefully lead
to a better,
healthier life
for all women.”
Installed in
mid-October, the
new equipment
includes a
separate CAD
(Computer Aided
Detection) unit
that is fully
integrated into
the system.
The equipment
| Pictured with the new digital mammography equipment are members of LifeCare's Imaging Department. From left to right are: Sandie Pfeiffer, Dianne Erickson, Brooke Johnson, Mary Anderson, and Jenna Phelps. Not pictured: Kate Hoey |
also
provides direct conversion,
meaning it eliminates the
need to use film. The result
is an exceptionally sharp
digital x-ray image with
better contrast and greater
consistency. The image
appears immediately on the
computer screen, allowing
the technologist to
|
check
each image before proceeding
to the next view. The entire
procedure takes about 20
minutes.
The new technology also eliminates the need for a dark room, film negatives, and gallons of photo developing chemicals, which Peterson describes as a very good environmental change. “We will completely renovate that area since developing film is suddenly obsolete when it comes to our line of work,” says Sandie Pfeiffer, R.T.(R)(M). Because there is no film to process, there is no risk of dust or other tiny elements creating imperfections on the images, which in the past could lead to repeat imaging. |
“On an x-ray, an anomaly often looks like a spec of dust. Not knowing
whether an imperfection was
a calcification or artifact,
which would require us to
repeat. The digital aspect
of the new mammography has
greatly reduced these
difficulties,” Peterson
says.
It was an exciting day when
Peterson first announced to
her staff LifeCare’s
decision to bring full-field
digital mammography to the
hospital."Actually,
‘exciting’ would probably be
an understatement. An
‘absolute thrill’ is a much
better way of describing the
reaction that swept over the
room,” says Peterson.
Not only had
their request for the new
system been considered a
long shot, but they all knew
the potential benefit to
their patients. “I couldn’t
believe it. I thought there
was no way of bringing this
advanced technology to
LifeCare so soon,” says
Pfeiffer, who first
recommended the new system
to Peterson. “But after
attending a conference that
demonstrated the importance
of going digital, we just
had to ask.” Peterson took
the request to LifeCare
Senior Leader Sue Lisell,
who along with President/CEO
Keith Okeson presented it to
the Board. Their decision
was unanimous.
“Typically,
technology works its way
from large hospitals on down
to smaller ones. However,
LifeCare’s has taken a
stance of being a leader in
adopting new medical
technology whenever feasibly
possible,” says Board
Chairman Cory Vatnsdal.
Financially, it
is a tremendous investment
but one that “had to be
made,” he says.
“Nearly all
critical care hospitals will
eventually have this
technology, but LifeCare is
certainly among the first.”
LifeCare continues to follow
the American Cancer
Society’s recommendation
that women receive annual
mammograms beginning at age
40.
“Early detection
is the key,” Peterson says.
“Anyone who has questions
about receiving the exam
should call Women’s Imaging
at 463-4753. There is
absolutely nothing that
should keep a woman from
this important screening.” |
Free mammograms are
available through the state
sponsored Sage Screening
Program to women who meet
certain income requirements.
Details about the program
are available online at
www.mnsage.com or by
calling LifeCare’s Imaging
Department at (218) 463-4753
|
| A side-by-side comparison demonstrates the dramatic improvements in mammography. Left: an X-ray image from 1975; Middle: An electronic copy of film negative from 2008; Right: An HD Image using LifeCare's new full-field digital equipment from November 2009. |
|
|
|