NEW IMAGING TOOLS BENEFIT PATIENTS AT BAYLOR MEDICAL CENTER AT GRAPEVINE

Diagnostic Services adds new wide-open, high-field GE MRI system, HiSpeed advancements for existing CT scanner and a new Siemen’s Nuclear Medicine Camera.

Baylor Medical Center at Grapevine has acquired new medical imaging tools – a “wide open”, high-field GE Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, a HiSpeed Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner, and a new Siemen’s Nuclear Medicine Camera.

“As the hospital grows in complexity and intensity of services, it is important for us to meet the demand for diagnostic imaging services in an efficient, productive manner,” says Mark Hood, president of Baylor Grapevine.

The radiology department is also extending its coverage in the morning and evening to make it easier for patients and physicians to schedule testing. The following is an overview of how each new piece of medical technology will enhance patient care.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI combines a powerful magnetic force with radio waves and a computer to produce crystal-clear, high contrast images of the body. The new MRI will allow the medical center to expand its diagnostic capability for cardiovascular disease and for neurology. The equipment has several important features:

• A high-field strength magnet to improve diagnostic accuracy and to drastically reduce the time of the exam.

• A wide-open design that reduces any discomfort for claustrophobic patients.

• Special equipment to allow safe, non-invasive evaluation of blocked arteries.

“We are very excited about this new cutting-edge MRI,” said James B. Kogan, M.D., a radiologist on staff at Baylor Grapevine. “Baylor Grapevine will be the only facility in this area to have such advanced diagnostic equipment. It will enable us to diagnose ailments and diseases faster and with higher accuracy.”

Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)

CT Scan can produce cross-sectional views of the inside of the body much like slices of bread. This allows physicians to evaluate the internal structure of organs and any overlapping tissues.

During a scan, low-dose X-ray beams are sent through the body and picked up by sensors. Information from the sensors is processed by a computer and displayed on a video screen.

The new scanner incorporates leading-edge imaging technology and provides a full range of clinical applications including diagnosis of disease, internal abnormalities and trauma.

A powerful computer workstation can also process images and dramatically improve the physicians’ ability to make diagnosis.

 “The scanner’s new features allow us improve patient care and accuracy,” says, Dr. Kogan.

Nuclear Medicine

Unlike other diagnostic imaging tools, nuclear medicine lets physicians evaluate whether the body’s organs are functioning properly. During a nuclear medicine scan, as the tissues absorb low-level radioactive chemicals introduced into the body, they send out a signal. A diseased or poorly functioning organ will emit a different signal than a healthy one. This can allow physicians to diagnose disease at the earliest possible stage.

An important use of nuclear medicine is in the diagnosis of cancer detection and heart disease. Physicians can compare an image of the heart at rest with the heart under stress after patients exercise on a treadmill. This test, called a nuclear medicine stress thallium study, can show areas of the heart that may have been damaged by a heart attack or from insufficient blood flow due to a blocked coronary artery. A different test can also detect the spread of cancer.

“Baylor Grapevine is growing and enhancing services everyday and with this new advanced technology and the upcoming addition of our new 6-story patient tower, to be completed in 2003, we can continue to serve our community as a full-service regional medical center,” says Mark Hood, president of Baylor Grapevine.

For more information about the new diagnostics services or other services offered at Baylor Grapevine, please call 1-800-4BAYLOR or 1-800-422-9567.