Mtn. View Hospital gets new low-dose CT scanner
The Mountain View Hospital said Monday it has installed a new Siemens SOMATOM Definition AS, 64-slice CT unit in the hospital’s Medical Imaging department.
The new CT scanner will allow hospital staff to perform examinations faster and more efficiently than before. The 64-slice unit produces 64 images per rotation; an upgrade from the hospital’s previous 6-slice model.
The unit is also equipped with a larger platform and opening to accommodate patients up to 500 pounds. These features allow even the most difficult patients (i.e., trauma patients) to be imaged rapidly, from head to toe, without difficulty.
“The new CT scanner at MVH is the latest in technological advances in medical CT imaging. This scanner will allow physicians to order complex CT exams which were not possible previously,” said Steven Michel, M.D., director of CT imaging with Central Oregon Radiology Associates. “For the emergency department, this equipment will allow for a faster exam time and therefore shorter time to diagnosis when every second matters.”
The Definition AS is the world’s first CT scanner that adapts to each patient and provides each person with 30-40% less radiation exposure than previous models.
The unit also supports pediatric patients by using a smaller dose of radiation exposure for children.
This allows patients in Jefferson County to receive the same level of care that they would at larger facilities throughout the state.
Michel said, “Dose reduction technology incorporated into this new scanner is at the cutting edge and this means the patient will receive a high quality exam at a fraction of the dose compared with previous equipment.”
The hospital will be hosting a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony during Coffee Cuppers with the Madras-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, July 27 at 8:00 am. All community members are invited to attend.
For more information about Mountain View Hospital’s new SOMATOM Definition AS CT scanner, contact Kelly Richard, Marketing, Communications & Foundation Manager at 541-460-4039.
About Mountain View Hospital
Since 1967, Mountain View Hospital District, in Madras, Oregon, has been providing quality medical care to the citizens of Jefferson County. MVH operates a 25-bed acute care facility and is designated as a Critical Access Hospital. Mountain View Hospital holds a management partnership with St. Charles Health System in Bend. For more information about Mountain View Hospital, visit www.mvhd.org.
