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Show Wednesday. March 9, 2005 D1 Expressions Community Calendar New technology casts light on radiology Basin Life 1 "- 1 The PACS system from Radiologist Dr. David Perry's point of view. He has the ability to compare images on two separate screens and make determinations on diagnosis much quicker with the help of the new PACS system. AVMC opens new wing By Carissa Maqee Express Writer The new Radiology Department Depart-ment of Ashley Valley Medical Center (AVMC) is something of a wonder for many who are involved and many who visit. Two new X-ray X-ray rooms, bone density room, mammography room, new, and much larger, changing rooms, and many other exciting additions ad-ditions are part of the renovations. renova-tions. There is actually what will be called, "the women's wing", for many of these new additions. The Radiology Department at AVMC is also quite excited about its new radiology system called the Picture Archiving Communications System or PACS. The PACS system is a new computer radiography system sys-tem which enables the immediate imme-diate retrieval of X-ray imaging imag-ing for AVMC Radiologist Dr. David Perry to access, read, compare to earlier patient images and give feedback into the system for other doctors in association with AVMC to read and understand. "This new system will increase speed and avail CZ-3 i i i ability of patient information informa-tion to doctors and will really improve health care for the Uintah Basin," says Director of Radiology Jeff Hanberg. The PACS system allows radiologists to manipulate image lighting, rotation, zoom and many fother capabilities much like that of a regular image from a digital camera. As required by law, AVMC must hold on to medical records for five years. This new system allows for records to be held up to seven years. Terminals are currently being placed all over the hospital hospi-tal which will allow access by doctors from many areas. Prior to this new technology doctors were in need of contacting radiology radi-ology often for more information informa-tion on their patients and to discuss earlier diagnoses. This also required the shuffling of many different X-rays for viewing view-ing mounted to a light box. The PACS system does much of the same but without with-out the shuffling. Radiologists and doctors have the ability to pull up patient records one at a time, or two, three, four at a time, depending on their specific spe-cific needs, with just the click 0 ) Jeff Hanberg, director of Radiology the new X-ray room. I , . --It""' Y The new waiting room of Ashley Valley Medical Center's Radiology place for patients to rest before entering for testing. of a mouse. It is also possible to have a printed image for patients to take to other specialists special-ists or doctors just as before. "Monitors are being set up around the hospital as we speak to enable more doctor accessibility," accessi-bility," said Hanberg. He also stated that Dr. Perry is in the ft ' ' f , ' y . fei it - at AVMC demonstrates the convenience of the new PACS system from V I top two or three radiologists he has ever worked with. In the future AVMC hopes to add a few more advances to the PACS system by enabling voice recognition recording as radiologists radi-ologists dictate their diagnosis while reading images. This will allow much quicker ability of reading the multiple images brought to radiologists. It will also allow other doctors to have a better understanding in interpreting inter-preting diagnoses. , Eventually the new PACS system will allow access to other medical institutions out of the rural areas. "For example, exam-ple, if we have a patient who enters the ER, we do X-rays and feel the patient's condition is something that should be dealt with at a more specialized hospital, we will then have the capability to send the information informa-tion to other hospitals and specialists spe-cialists on the Wasatch Front to determine whether the patient should be transferred. This allows for immediate feedback which will help the patient to hopefully have a better recovery," recov-ery," said Hanberg. The new X-ray machine and refurbished rooms at AVMC will provide a more comfortable comfort-able atmosphere for patients in an uncomfortable time. The GE Protius X-ray equipment is a part of the PACS system due to its "digital camera" like capabilities. capa-bilities. Using the new computer com-puter system and what is called a cassette, technicians are able to set up patients, enter specific patient information, discern ' the area of X-ray to be completed, com-pleted, take the "pictures" or X-ray images, and then immediately imme-diately have access to them in the PACS system. The cassettes . are much like that of a memory card in digital cameras with different sizes' available and different capabilities. ; ; "The new X-ray room sees up to thirty patients a day at times so you can see that this new system will definitely speed things up for the Radiology Department, stated Hanberg." . In speaking with Dr. Perry it is easy to see his amount of "" . "... Department provides a comfortable appreciation for the new system. sys-tem. After implementation Jan. 28, he has had the capability of viewing many more images in a shorter period of time. He demonstrated the abilities of the system to manipulate images imag-es for better viewing, measurement, measure-ment, zoom capability and the viewing of a number of images comparing one patient's history. histo-ry. This new system allows the replacement of many analog workflow methods to become digital and more user friendly. The new Radiology department depart-ment has created enough room for AVMC to accommodate a number of patients and to assist with all of their examination examina-tion needs. The newly renovated renovat-ed area is brighter with more artistic additions than the hospital had before. Adorning the walls are photos of the Basin area, Flaming Gorge, canyons of the Green River, family oriented photography and art, other colorful wall decor including borders, paints and wallpapers. "It is a much brighter and more "welcoming "welcom-ing environment than before," Hanberg said. Other than the new PACS equipment, the ; radiology department also uses very high quality, technical, CT scan equipment, high quality ultrasound equipment, Bone Densitomiter, and a technologically technologi-cally advanced mammography machine. , ,! "We are getting really good feedback from the women who have experienced the new mammography machine. It is supposedly not quite as painful as it does not squeeze quite as hard," states Hanberg. ' The new women's wing offers much more of a private experience for women having examinations and testing such asmammography. . The Radiology department and the PACS system offers a variety of information at a quicker pace for Ashley Valley Medical Center "Making our patients feel comfortable is our utmost priority at AVMC." , March 9 The Family History Center will be hosting a free class on Preparing to Visit the Salt Lake Family History Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 by Karen Coombs. March 11 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night Kay's Band provides pro-vides the music. March 12 The local Girl Scouts will be having their annual cookie cook-ie booths on Saturday at Wal-Mart, Basin Sports and Cellular One on 100 West and Main from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you are looking for Girl Scout Cookies, the booths are great opportunities to purchase pur-chase them. i March 13 The Grace Baptist Church, 3816 South 2500 East, will be hosting Revival Meetings with Evangelist Chuck Crabtree starting Sunday, March 13 through Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m. each evening. All interested inter-ested are welcome to attend. March 14 AARP Driver Saety Class will be held March 14 and 15, 1 to 5 p.m. at Cross Roads Senior Center in Roosevelt For more information contact Grady McCullough at (435) 789-5258. March 16 The Family History Center will be hosting a free class on Using Cyndi's List at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 by Denise Hunting. March 17 The Family History Center will be hosting a free class on Vital Records Index and Scottish Parochial Records at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday, March 17 by Jan Schroeder. March 18 Uintah Basin Dairy Men Association is sponsoring a Dairy Princess Scholarship Pageant. The Pageant will be held at the USU Building in Roosevelt, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. First place will be $500, with two runner-up prizes of $250. The pageant is open for all girls 17-24 years old For more information and pageant rules please contact Becky Rasmussen before March 5 at (435) 646-3522. Uintah School District will be offering the GED test March 18 and 19 at the Uintah School District Office, 635 West 200 South. The test will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18 and continue Saturday, March 19. Those interested in taking the test need to fill out an application by 5 p.m. Friday. Administration fee is $55 with retakes available for $llsubtest For questions, contact David John or Elaine Gardiner at the Ashley Valley Education Center, 781-3100 ext. 1013. Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night Kay's Band provides pro-vides the music. March 19 The Family Support Center is sponsoring PREP workshop work-shop for married and engaged couples on Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Family Support Center, 259 North 700 East in Roosevelt Instructors are Stan and Kathryn Larson. Workshop is free but space is limited. Please call (435) 722-2401 to register or for more informa tion.. March 22 LEPC meeting to be held at the Western Park at 12 noon. All those interested are welcome wel-come to attend. The Family History Center will be hosting a free class on Helps for Stake and Ward Family History Consultants at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 by Mimi Thomas. Sign up is required For more information informa-tion please contact the Family History Center at 435-789-3618. To place Runs of puMc htoratt os to tbo VomH Express, P.O. loi WOO, mmH, MHtortvtTMl.coM, or coll the Vtmal Express at 719-3511 The newly constructed X-ray room with the use of the PACS system offers patients a highly updated and speedy experience with radiology. . ( , ! 1 .; 1 |