BCH Acquires Advanced Ultrasound Technology
Boone County Hospital now has a new innovative ultrasound system from GE Healthcare. This advanced ultrasound system will help shorten patient exam times while giving doctors detailed information to help make informed diagnoses and treatment decisions for patients.
“The new ultrasound expands our diagnostic ultrasound capabilities beyond what we’ve previously been able to accomplish,” says Teresa Beem, BCH Radiology Director. “It provides us with extraordinary scanning abilities we can use for general imaging on a wide range of patients, from infants to large adults with varying conditions.”
Thousands of ultrasound tests are done in the U.S. each year as its image quality continues to improve and applications continue to expand. Ultrasound is a non-invasive and expedient way to look inside the body at organs and soft tissue. There is no exposure to ionizing radiation as there is with X-ray or Computed Tomography (CT) exams. Instead, ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to create a detailed image of the organ or tissue being examined.
Most people associate ultrasound with prenatal exams to view developing fetuses. But ultrasound has many other applications. It can be used to help make a diagnosis, determine therapy options and guide medical procedures. Advances in ultrasound technology continue to expand its diagnostic capabilities within hospitals and clinics.
“With the new machine, we are looking forward to achieving highly detailed scans on more patients, from head to toe, providing doctors with information to help them make informed diagnoses and determine treatment options,” says Kari Houser, BCH Ultrasound Tech. “In addition to helping shorten exam times, the new system may be able to help reduce the need for additional tests or provide an alternative to more expensive CT or MR exams.”