North Valley Hospital Begins Offering Nuclear Medicine Services
 In an expansion of its imaging services, North Valley Hospital has begun offering mobile nuclear medicine at its location in Whitefish.
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose a variety of diseases including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities.
This new mobile service is offered in collaboration with Kalispell Regional Medical Center. A self-contained coach will provide nuclear medicine services to patients every Thursday at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. Currently, patients in the north Flathead Valley must travel to Kalispell, Missoula or Spokane to access nuclear medicine services.
Nuclear medicine can be used to identify abnormal lesions deep in the body without exploratory surgery. The procedures can also determine whether or not particular organs are functioning normally. For example, nuclear medicine can determine whether the heart is pumping blood adequately, if the brain is receiving enough blood supply, if the kidneys are functioning properly and whether the stomach is emptying as needed. It can also be helpful in studying Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizure sites and heart damage after a heart attack.
The mobile coach will be outfitted with The SymbiaŽ E nuclear camera from Siemens Medical Solutions, which allows physicians to obtain more detailed information and increased image clarity.
“We are excited to be able to offer this service at North Valley Hospital” said Jason Spring, CEO. “It provides more convenience for the patients in our community to have these services close to home. Plus, it’s a great addition to our current line-up of imaging services. Traditional X-ray, Ultrasound and CAT Scan look primarily at the structure of an organ. Now with nuclear medicine, we can also evaluate the function of the organs.”
For more information, contact the North Valley Hospital Imaging Department at 406-863-3576. |