The new “low-dose” CT technology from General Electric operates via a new processing algorithm which allows the imaging technician to use less radiation and still provide high resolution images to be read by the physician.
“Think of it as the progression in television picture quality,” said Doug Wehrli, North Valley Hospital Imaging Department Manager. “In the past, we had analog television that used a lot of electricity. Today we can enjoy high definition picture quality from digital televisions using much less electricity. In the CT world—as the image quality improved to the “HD” level, it required the systems to use higher doses of radiation. Today with this new Dose Reduction Technology, North Valley can still provide HD quality imaging with much less radiation exposure to the patient.”

Another benefit of the low-dose CT Scanner is that it has five times the computing power resulting in a decrease in processing times of complex studies.

“We’re excited about the safety and healthcare benefits we can bring to our community,” said Jason Spring, CEO for North Valley. “We’re especially pleased to do this with no additional cost to patients.”

A CT scan (computerized tomography) combines a series of X-ray views taken to produce cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside the body. It is well suited to quickly examine people who may have internal injuries from accidents or other types of trauma. CT is particularly beneficial in evaluating patients with complex symptoms or medical histories, or those with a history of cancer.

Wehrli explains, “North Valley has a 64-Slice CT Scanner, offering the highest quality images available. With our new equipment, we can lower the radiation exposure up to 40% and optimize the quality provided by the scanner. “

For more information, contact the North Valley Hospital Imaging Department at 406-863-3576.