Westerly Hospital has upgraded its CAT Scan equipment to a GE LightSpeed VCT 32-slice scanner. The new equipment replaces a 16-slice scanner which had previously been in use by the Hospital.

 

The GE LightSpeed VCT 32-slice scanner will make the imaging of patients or procedures at the Hospital much easier and will provide for improved images than those provided by the previous scanner. By collecting massive volumes of data, the 32-slice scanner can detect the smallest anatomy allowing a physician to view these images in a 3-D format.

 

The new scanner will also provide for faster patient exams. For example, an image of a single body organ can now be captured in one second, and images of a whole body trauma can be captured in ten seconds. Other patient benefits include less time needed for breath holds, which can mean less stress for a patient; dose reduction features when capturing an image; and, breathing lights to help coach patients through holding their breath, providing for an easier exam. The patient table is also designed to hold patients up to 500 pounds.

 

“We are excited to be able to make this technology available to our patients,” said Margaret Austin, Chief Nursing Officer at The Westerly Hospital. “Particularly for patients undergoing a stroke workup, the LightSpeed VCT 32-slice scanner offers the speed and resolution required for rapid examination of blood vessels in the brain, and will enable physicians to determine the best course of treatment while reducing the number of exams a patient may need to undergo.”

The GE LightSpeed Scanner will have a number of uses at the Hospital including for abdominal injuries, lung exams, oncology and cancer care, pediatric assessments, and trauma and emergency care to name a few.