Upgrades at the Veterans Administration Hospital
|
New Voice Recognition Software at the VA
|
TalkTechnology, a voice recognition dictation system installed at the Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospital early in 2004, allows instantaneous transcription of dictations onto a screen while you dictate. Radiologists sign off a case and the report is immediately available hospital-wide. Images are already available hospital-wide through our PACS system.
|
New Equipment at the VA
|
Additionally, the VA is almost completely filmless, with state-of-the-art flat panel monitors for the radiologists to read from. The VA also has nearly all new equipment, with an announcement in September 2004 that we have been approved to purchase a new Philips 1.5T MRI scanner, two new Toshiba angio rooms (one biplane), and a new Ultrasound machine. All of the new equipment will be installed over the next year. The radiology department at the VA performs over 100,000 diagnostic imaging studies per year.
|
Continuing Progress at the University Hospital
|
Angiography
|
 A biplane neuroangiography suite was installed in October 2004. This new system is equipped with the latest technology in acquiring digital studies and a new fluoroscopic C-arm capable of fast rotational angiography at a frame rate of 50fps for 3D angiography. This combination allows for artifact-free 3D vessel imaging important in characterization of small intracranial aneurysms. Availability of low dose fluoroscopy allows for reducing radiation doses to both the patient and the operator. This room is used primarily for cerebral angiography, neurointerventional procedures, vertebroplasty, and kyphoplasty.
|
We will also add a single plane angiography suite at the end of 2005. This single plane angiographic room will have the same capabilities as the biplane suite but will have a larger image intensifier for whole body angiographic studies.
A multipurpose fluorography/fluoroscopic suite is currently being installed with a highly mobile C-arm which is capable of performing multiple radiologic procedures, including vascular contrast studies. Primary utilization of this room is for digestive system contrast studies and for fluoroscopic-guided imaging procedures.
|
| PET Scan |
Construction of a dedicated PET building with both clinical and research capabilities is scheduled to be completed in the middle of 2005. This two-story building, attached to the first floor of the University Hospital, will house clinical PET facility on one floor and a cyclotron and research laboratory in the basement. Facilities include 2 CT-PET scanners, a microPET scanner, and an in-house cyclotron.
|
| CT Scan |
We are relocating a multislice CT scanner to the outpatient center (ACC). The new location in outpatient radiology will be at site of outpatient clinics, which will be more convenient for patients. The UH has two other multislice helical CT scanners in the radiology department in the University Hospital. There are current plans for adding a 64-slice helical CT scanner, possibly at the end of 2005.
|
| MR Scan |
Construction is underway in the MR building to house two new MR scanners, a 1.5T magnet and a 3.0T magnet. They are scheduled for installation in March and June 2005. These two new technologically advanced MR scanners will allow for high-resolution, whole-body MR imaging. After completion of this project, the MR facility will house a total of 4 magnets, including one 3.0T magnet and three 1.5T magnets.
|
| PACS and Vital Images workstations |
We are completing upgrades of our PACS and 3D workstations to accommodate the increased number and requirements of imaging studies and the installation of new angiographic equipment. Postprocessing workstations abound in the department with increased utilization in CTA studies (brain, coronary, and whole body), CT colonoscopy, and spine imaging. Fusion software is available currently on our CTI PET machines and we are anticipating an exclusive workstation for our new MR magnets.
|
| See other news articles featuring our Radiologists |
