GRAVETTE -- The Ozarks Community Hospital health system announced it had made comprehensive radiology equipment upgrades and is now offering expanded services and radiology exams in Gravette.
With the addition of new equipment, OCH of Gravette becomes the only completely digital radiology department in Northwest Arkansas. The upgraded equipment provides better safety for patients due to lower dose radiation and expedited exams.
In addition to the existing MRI and general radiology services, the Gravette hospital is now home to an upgraded Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, x-ray and ultrasound.
The new Siemens SOMATOM Perspective 64-slice CT scanner delivers better image quality, reduced radiation dosage and reduced need for rescans. In addition, the new scanner can perform additional tests, including: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, a heart imaging test that helps determine if plaque buildup has narrowed arteries; Low Dose Lung Screening, a screening which meets CMS guidelines for a lung cancer screening; Cardiac Calcium Scoring, a noninvasive procedure to accurately determine the degree and severity of hard plaque within the coronary arteries; and a QCT Bone Density Test, a scan which diagnoses and monitors low bone mass and is suggested for patients at risk or with evidence of osteoporosis.
The new x-ray machines, a Multix Select for x-rays at any angle and a Multix Fusion for better coverage for patients, allow for increased portability and support all routine, pediatric and orthopedic exams. These upgrades include an x-ray machine on wheels that can be utilized in inpatient rooms for exams.
The two new ultrasound systems, a portable ACUSON S2000 and a portable and wireless ACUSON Freestyle Ultrasound System, allow for increased image quality for the patient and ease of use for the technologist.
In January, 2015, the Association for Medical Imaging Management announced that OCH of Gravette was one of six recipients of the AHRA and Toshiba Putting Patients First grant to improve the safety, understanding and comfort of pediatric radiology procedures. This KidSTRONG pediatric safety program at OCH of Gravette is a coinciding complement to the comprehensive technology upgrades. The radiology department has been completely renovated due to the state of the art radiology equipment, with an emphasis on pediatric-friendly facilities and a comforting experience for families.
General News on 09/23/2015