Bassett Medical Center Purchases Advanced CT Scanners and Renovates Medical Imaging Suites

Bassett Medical Center recently installed two state of the art Computed Tomography (CT) machines, installed in re-outfitted CT suites. These upgrades and renovations are the latest completed in a Bassett Healthcare Network Medical Imaging Department initiative to replace CT scanners at four of the network’s affiliated hospitals.

Accurate medical imaging is critically important at any hospital. It allows practitioners to see the body’s internal structures noninvasively to diagnosis illnesses or injuries, develop treatment plans, and monitor diseases like cancer or conditions like cardiovascular irregularities.

“A CT scanner, like any piece of technology, becomes outdated over time, so an upgrade like this ensures our network remains at the cutting edge,” said Lynn Johnson, Director of Medical Imaging at Bassett Healthcare Network. “Patients can feel confident when they receive a scan at Bassett that the equipment their caregivers are using is technologically advanced. Our technologists and nurses take pride in their work and are passionate about their roles.”

Enhancing Image Quality and Improving Patient Comfort

Bassett Medical Center’s new CT machines, the Phillips Spectral CT 7500 and Phillips Incisive CT, are state of the art scanners that offer benefits to both patients and caregivers.

A CT scanner works by taking multiple X-ray images from different angles. Those “slices” are then reconstructed to create a three-dimensional image of the area of concern.  

Both scanners feature automated workflows with AI integration that make this process quicker, more seamless, and more precise, leading to higher quality images. In many cases, this can also mean a reduced radiation dose, increased consistency between uses, and added opportunities for technologists to interact more easily with patients.

A spectral CT scan takes these advancements even further by acquiring images at two different energy levels, allowing for better differentiation between various elements in the body, like bones and tissues. For example, a spectral CT scan can benefit cardiology patients through enhanced visualization of the vessels and coronaries in the heart, allowing comprehensive evaluations to be done quickly, sometimes without the need for an MRI or visit to the cardiac catheterization lab.

A better CT scan can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and potentially eliminate the need for additional scans to be taken.

Remodeling the Suites

Before the new CT scanners were installed, the suites where they are located were thoroughly remodeled.

Ceiling, flooring, and lighting were all updated. Cabinets used for storage were also moved to better fit the new scanners and enhance technologist and patient comfort.

A CT scanner generates a significant amount of heat when it operates and it contains components that can be sensitive to temperature extremes. Suites must be cooled 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This makes a high-quality HVAC system a necessity for any CT suite. The system that services Bassett Medical Center’s CT suites has now been fully replaced to enhance dependability throughout the year.

“The process of completing these renovations to our CT suites and purchasing, acquiring, and installing the machines has taken months. During that time, our caregivers have shown patience, hard work, and flexibility during this process,” said Joshua George, Manager of Medical Imaging for Bassett Medical Center. “We are pleased that we can bring the benefits of these new machines to our patients and community.”

A new CT scanner was installed at O’Connor Hospital in Delhi last year. Cobleskill Regional Hospital and Little Falls Hospital are slated for upgrades in the near future.