CT scanner up and running

FORT FRANCES—After arriving at La Verendrye Hospital a little under two weeks ago, the new Toshiba Aquilion 64-slice CT scanner officially began helping Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. to better deliver care close to home Tuesday.
“We have started scanning patients,” said Patti Johnson, manager of diagnostic imaging for Riverside, adding five patients used the new service that first day.
Johnson noted more bookings are lined up as staff continue to learn the ropes.
“We need to take it slow while all the staff are completing their training,” she explained. “We have two key users that are being trained.
“The applications specialist is on-site working through the technologists that are being trained.
“So it will be a steady progression,” stressed Johnson. “We have patients booked for the next two weeks. She [the applications specialist] is here for two weeks, so the staff will be very comfortable by the time she leaves.”
Johnson said the diagnostic imaging department isn’t sure what kind of patient volume they’ll be receiving in the long-term, but felt the CT scanner probably would be used on a daily basis.
And when it is, her staff will be ready. Eventually, all 10 technicians in the diagnostic imaging department will be qualified to operate it.
“We’re doing a ‘train the trainer’ approach,” she explained. “We have two key users that have been trained to date, and they will slowly train the rest of the staff.
“All the staff have done some courses; it’s a matter of hands-on [training] specific to the Toshiba instrument.”
Between the time the CT scanner arrived July 23 and it was first used Aug. 5, the equipment has been installed in its own room at the hospital and last week was calibrated for use by a physicist.
“Checks and balances had to be in place before we started putting patients through,” said Johnson.
While staff have had a little time to get used to seeing the CT scanner here after months and months of waiting, Johnson said she was ecstatic nonetheless to finally see it operational.
“It’s amazing,” she enthused. “It’s a relief to see everything come together. The room is beautiful.
“We’re putting patients through, and that’s very exciting,” added Johnson. “The staff is just thrilled.”
CT (or computed tomography) is a medical imaging method in which digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation.
“It’s an important and effective diagnostic tool,” said Johnson, adding the CT scanner will be used to help diagnose everything from sinus problems and tumours to appendicitis and strokes.
Patients aside, the public will be able to see the CT scanner for themselves during a grand opening/open house likely to be held this fall.
The CT scanner was made possible through the “Just Imagine” fundraising campaign, which saw district residents and organizations pledge more than $1.5 million between October, 2006 and March, 2007 to purchase it.
(Fort Frances Times)