Carestream, Rochester, NY, announces San Antonio University Health recently purchased a 17 of its room-sited and portable digital diagnostic imaging systems for the 740-bed University Health System facility in southern Texas.
“Converting to digital radiography allows us to achieve excellent image quality, rapid image access, and impressive staff productivity that can expedite diagnosis and treatment,” says Russell Anthony, University Hospital’s Radiology Supervisor. “Our service engineers track imaging performance for imaging systems and detectors. They are extremely pleased with Carestream’s advanced diagnostics and remote monitoring capabilities—as well as the ability of Carestream’s service team to resolve many issues remotely.”
Three room-based imaging systems and three mobile imaging systems deliver fully featured, high-quality imaging in the hospital’s fast-paced emergency department. DRX-Evolution Plus and DRX-Revolution systems also are installed in the trauma center and the new pediatric ED. Room and mobile exams reach 18,000 imaging exams a month.
“Carestream software tracks sensors on each system and detector so our service engineers know about each knock and drop. They know which technologist was using the system and how badly the system was damaged,” says Anthony. “This monitoring ensures that our systems are performing at peak capacity. It is also a testament to the durability of Carestream’s systems because they are extremely reliable even with hard use.”
Each DRX-Revolution travels an average of 180 miles a month, according to the hospital’s service engineers. “These mobile imaging systems are used around the clock and we have been extremely pleased with both their performance and durability,” said Mr. Anthony.
Each imaging system is configured to maximize productivity for its imaging environment. The ED’s room-based imaging systems have fixed detectors in the wall stand and a wireless detector for table and tabletop exams, while the trauma center is configured with a 17-inch x 17-inch wireless detector in the wall Bucky and standard-size wireless detectors for table and tabletop exams.
“We elected to have fixed detectors in the wall stand in the ED because this expedites complex exams while simultaneously reducing the risk of dropped detectors,” Anthony reports.
The pediatric ED has one standard-size detector and a small-format 10×12-inch Carestream DRX 2530C cesium iodide detector that allows technologists to capture high-resolution X-ray images of babies with a minimum dose. The small-format detector fits into incubator trays, which avoids the need to move fragile infants who are connected to multiple tubes and lines.
The hospital also retrofitted two fluoroscopy rooms, several general radiography rooms and one portable unit with DRX detectors to convert these systems to digital radiography.
For more information, visit Carestream and University Health System.
