Tuesday, March 23, 2000

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency provides service to the Hughson Medical Clinic and now has what is considered to be the most technologically advanced CT Scanner in the San Joaquin Valley.

According to Bev Finley, Managing Director of the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, "Our previous scanner was becoming outdated and was not Y2K compliant. Our new scanner is a significant improvement in quality and will allow up to provide an outstanding level of care for our patients."

Dr. David Li, clinical radiologist for the agency believes that the "new scanner brings us state-of-the-art technology, and that means we have increased our ability to catch disease early and save lives."

The new Picker's MX Twin spiral CT Scanner can be used in all areas of medicine, but it is especially useful to see areas of the body that an X-ray or an MRI can't see, such as dense bone and soft tissue. The new 3-D scanner has replaced old procedures such as Angiography. Instead of an invasive "mini-surgery" with possible side effects such as stroke or a reaction to the medications previously used, a patient can be in and out of the radiology department in minutes with no adverse effects.

It has a laser scan area so it can accommodate larger patients and it can scan faster than any other machine using half the radiation.

The CT takes pictures of cross-sections of the body, called "slices." The computer takes thirty to forty of these "slices" and puts them together to make a 3-dimensional picture that makes it easier for surgeons, doctors and even patients to read and understand. It has the highest resolution than any other scanner which reduces the possibility of missing anything. Dr. Li said, "These images make doctors 'drool.' "

It took nearly two months to install the 2 1/2 ton scanner. It was first flown from the manufacturer in Israel to the United States and Modesto, then the previous scanner was removed and finally the new one was assembled, piece by piece, in the remodeled radiology room.

The scanner is located at 830 Scenic Drive in Modesto, at what used to be Stanislaus Medical Center, and is available to all as long as they have been referred to the agency by their physician.

Reprinted by permission of The Hughson Chronicle