Westerly upgrades to 32-slice CT scanner

The Westerly Hospital has upgraded its CT scanning equipment to a GE LightSpeed VCT 32-slice scanner, replacing a 16-slice scanner and improving the quality and the level of detail available to physicians to aid in diagnostics.
CT, or computed tomography, is a medical imaging method in which a three-dimensional image is generated by taking a series of two-dimensional X-ray images around a single axis of rotation – the more images, the more detailed the result.
The new scanner will also provide for faster patient exams, hospital officials said. For example, an image of a single body organ can now be captured in one second, and images of a whole body trauma can be captured in 10 seconds. Other patient benefits include less time needed for breath holds, dose reduction features when capturing an image, and breathing lights to help coach patients through holding their breath, providing for an easier exam. The patient table is also designed to hold patients up to 500 pounds.
“We are excited to be able to make this technology available to our patients,” said Margaret Austin, chief nursing officer at The Westerly Hospital. “Particularly for patients undergoing a stroke workup, the LightSpeed VCT 32-slice scanner offers the speed and resolution required for rapid examination of blood vessels in the brain, and will enable physicians to determine the best course of treatment while reducing the number of exams a patient may need to undergo.”
The new scanner will be used at the hospital in evaluations of abdominal injuries, lung exams, oncology and cancer care, pediatric assessments, and trauma and emergency care, among others.
The Westerly Hospital is a 125-bed hospital serving residents of Washington County, Rhode Island, and New London County, Conn. For more information, go to www.westerlyhospital.org.