2005 Press Releases
Hospital implements digital echocardiography for heart studies ROME – Advancing its cardiac diagnostic capabilities, Rome Memorial Hospital has made a $110,000 investment in new Phillips digital ultrasound equipment that enhances image quality and speeds the review process for physicians. An echocardiogram is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves, also known as ultrasound, to create moving pictures of the heart. An echocardiogram is commonly performed to evaluate the valves and chambers of the heart in a noninvasive manner. The echocardiogram allows doctors to evaluate heart murmurs, check the pumping function of the heart, and evaluate patients who have had heart attacks. “Traditional echocardiography uses videotape which requires the physicians to view the study sequentially, fast-forwarding and rewinding through images of interest,” explained David Favata, RT, RDCS, a registered x-ray technologist and registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer. “With the new equipment, we are able to capture the images digitally and display them on a computer screen. The physician can pull up several images on the screen simultaneously to confirm or better understand an initial finding,” he said. “In addition, physicians can also refer back to prior studies to compare results over time.” “It’s a much more efficient system for the physician. Statistics estimate that physicians save about five minutes per study or 25 full work days per year,” he said. “We are the first hospital in the area to convert to a completely digital echocardiography system.” The technology also makes it easier to share the images with other physicians who may be consulting on a case. The images can be put on a CD or sent via internet while maintaining the quality of the original image. The new system is also equipped with an automated report generation, eliminating the need for dictation or transcription. Rome Memorial Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Services Department provides several diagnostic services to detect heart abnormalities. These include electrocardiograms, cardiac stress testing, Holter monitoring, and echocardiograms. Appointments may be made with a physician’s order by calling Centralized Scheduling at 338-7338. | 