TCH Newsroom
Contact: Rodney Foushee
Public Relations & Marketing Manager
(828) 883-5435
Hospital Installs Second Nuclear Camera
BREVARD, N.C., Feb. 14, 2008—Transylvania Community Hospital recently purchased and installed a second state-of-the-art nuclear camera to reduce wait times for patients.
The new camera was installed and put into operation at the Brevard hospital in early February. An increased demand for diagnostic testing using this technology led to the addition.
The GE Infinia camera with an Xeleris 2 workstation will be used for a range of diagnostic procedures—cardiac testing (including stress tests), HIDA scans for gallbladder disease, lung scans, renal scans, bone scans and thyroid scans.
The hospital’s first nuclear camera was operating at maximum capacity. Wait times for the first camera were up to three to four weeks due to the high volume of tests requested by referring physicians. The addition of this second camera will significantly reduce wait times. Patients are referred for testing by primary-care physicians, general surgeons and specialists in cardiology, pulmonology and gastroenterology.
Since Dr. Mark Isserman, a full-time on-site cardiologist, joined the hospital’s medical staff, the usage of the hospital’s first nuclear camera has increased significantly. Isserman began performing on-site cardiac stress testing for patients who normally would have had to travel out of town for these tests.
“Having a second nuclear medicine camera will help reduce the time patients are waiting to get in for nuclear medicine studies,” explained Julie Olson, imaging director at Transylvania Community Hospital. “The new camera comes equipped with software specifically designed to enhance our ability to evaluate the heart. We are excited and pleased to offer this level of service to our community.”
“This additional equipment will provide us with more technology and better efficiency,” said Danny Jones, nuclear medicine coordinator at Transylvania Community Hospital. “I am excited about the growth we are experiencing in our nuclear medicine department and being able to now accommodate that growth.”
Hospital officials estimate that approximately 2,400 nuclear test procedures will be performed each year. Transylvania Community Hospital continues to strive to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community by adding the latest medical technology and improving hospital facilities.
About Transylvania Community Hospital
Celebrating its 75th year, Transylvania Community Hospital is a nationally ranked 5-Star Hospital and a leading provider of quality healthcare services in Transylvania and surrounding counties. Based in Brevard, N.C., it is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1933 and is the largest employer in Transylvania County.