Digital Mammography
Betty Textor, RT(R)(M)(CT), Mammography Technologist with St. John's and the new GE Essential Digital Mammography Equipment. Photo courtesy St. John's Lutheran Hospital.
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Out with the old and in with the new
St. John’s Hospital installs new digital mammography equipment
by St. John’s Lutheran Hospital
June 25, 2008
On June 17, 2008 the Imaging Department at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital completed their first Digital Mammography exam marking the beginning of a new era in cutting-edge technology.
The new equipment touts many technological advancements including, a larger detector to accommodate all breast shapes and sizes, flexible off-centered ergonomic paddles for increased patient comfort, top of the line image quality at an impressively low radiation dose, and unparalleled precision and intuitive operations for more efficient exams with fewer retakes.
As you can well imagine, the Imaging Staff at St. John’s is celebrating the arrival of the new technology. “This is technology I want available for my wife, my mother, my daughter. We're so blessed to have it right here in Libby, Montana,” commented David Broderick, RT and Manager of the Imaging Department at St. John’s. “Bringing digital mammography to St. John's represents the most amazing and inspiring partnership I have witnessed between a hospital and a community. Businesses, organizations, and individuals contributed $250,000 toward a cause that they believe in. That cause? To bring a new technology to our community which will save lives! Our brand new GE Essential is the newest and arguably the best tool to diagnose breast pathology earlier and accurately. By diagnosing earlier and more accurately, women can receive treatment quicker, and the prognosis for recovery is much greater. We feel that our communities deserve this type of technology and we will continue to work with them to make it available locally.”
Dr. Stephen Becker, Radiologist at St. John’s concurs. “While St. John’s is a smaller rural facility, we still need to take advanced measures to meet the healthcare needs of our community. Advanced Mammography is one of those measures,” said Becker. “The new technology adds a benefit that we did not with have the older equipment, it brings outside specialists to us for what we refer to as a “second look”. The new Digital Mammography equipment can do this via a computerized network with Kalispell radiologists and it can do it in matter of minutes. That particular feature will be especially beneficial to me as I deal with the more complicated cases. My hat is off to the Foundation at St. John’s and the community for making this possible. "
The analog equipment that the St. John’s Auxiliary purchased some 15 years ago has been donated to Life Line of Hope out of Kalispell. “We work with Life Line of Hope who identifies communities in underdeveloped countries that could benefit by our used equipment,” said John Rios, Manager of Materials Management at St. John’s. “All of the equipment is in good shape and will be put to very good use. Most of these countries have never had the level of technology that our used equipment will bring. There is great satisfaction in recycling our used equipment in such a useful way.”
There will be a “Christmas in July” open house to celebrate the arrival of the Digital Mammography and Dexa Bone Density Equipment on Thursday, July 24th, from 7pm to 9pm at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. The Hospital Foundation and Imaging Department will be providing tours, prizes, and dessert. The public is invited to attend.
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