Rapid Access to High-Quality Images Improving Neonatal ICU Outcomes
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This is a guest-post by Robert Whitmarsh, RT (R), CNMT, Director of Medical Imaging Administration, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center (Syracuse, N.Y.).
St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, N.Y.
Our hospital retrofitted three of our portable x-ray systems with CARESTREAM DRX detectors, which are primarily deployed in our most critical environments – the ER, ICU, neonatal ICU and surgical suites. And when seconds count, we’ve seen the instant access to images they offer actually save lives.
One recent example is a case of a premature baby in our neonatal ICU. The baby’s condition suddenly started to decline. Our staff took a chest image using a portable X-ray system that had been retrofitted with a CARESTREAM DRX-1 detector. Less than five seconds later, physicians looked at the image and realized one of the baby’s lungs had collapsed.
Detecting a pneumothorax is notoriously difficult, particularly in premature infants. Carestream’s DRX-detector delivered the exceptional visualization needed for our physicians to see the problem so they could correct it. They immediately inserted a chest tube to re-inflate the lung.
Taking the image, making the diagnosis and correcting the condition were ALL accomplished in less time than it takes to process a CR image.
We believe having high-quality digital radiography images available on our portable systems saved that baby’s life—and significantly improves care for other critically ill and injured patients.
Editor’s Note: You can schedule an appointment at RSNA 2012 or stop by booth #2636 to see our latest digital radiography and pediatric imaging solutions.
