Bluffton Hospital, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, has acquired a new Siemens Go Top 128-slice computerized tomography (CT) scanner.

The scanner is significantly faster than the one it replaces and offers enhanced technology. The unit also improves the care of stroke patients. Bluffton Hospital is an accredited stroke center.

“In some cases, healthcare providers want additional information about a stroke patient, which requires further, more detailed scans of the blood vessels of the head and neck,” explained Jill Jaynes, director of imaging at BVHS. “Patients requiring these more involved scans can now receive them at Bluffton Hospital.”

Because the new machine is a 128-slice scanner, it creates smaller image “slices,” allowing for a more detailed look at each body section being scanned.

“We are able to scroll through the patient’s anatomy, from top to bottom, front to back, and side to side,” commented Chelsea Kirkpatrick, lead radiology technologist at Bluffton Hospital.

This could involve “scrolling” through the blood vessels of the head and neck looking for blockages in possible stroke patients. A scanner with more slices allows more detail to be seen while “scrolling.” In addition, the new scanner offers a new opportunity to scan to visualize blood vessels of the lower extremities looking for vascular disease.

Kirkpatrick said a CT of the head, which took about 15 to 20 seconds on the 16-slice scanner, now takes about 5 to 8 seconds.

“Being able to scan more quickly also makes a difference when scanning the chest or abdomen,” she said. “Patients have to hold their breaths for these scans so we can get a good study, so a shorter scan means there’s less discomfort.”

The faster machine allows for quicker patient appointments, which means more appointments can be scheduled in a day.

“Being able to get patients scheduled more quickly also reduces their anxiety,” Jaynes said. “After all, any time a provider tells a patient, ‘We need to do more testing,’ it can create worry. Being able to get that scan sooner, and then get in to see a specialist more quickly if needed, not only makes the process more efficient but can reduce some of that stress.”

Jaynes, who has worked in imaging for more than 30 years, added that being able to do different types of scans at Bluffton Hospital allows technologists there to further hone their skills, providing educational opportunities for associates as well.

“When I began my career, a single or four-slice CT was considered high-tech,” she said. “Those scans would take about 15 minutes to do. Today’s scanners take just a few seconds and can provide much clearer images. As technology advances, providers can diagnose and treat health concerns more efficiently, providing better care. This technology has changed everything.”

However, not many hospitals the size of the one in Bluffton have invested in this type of technology.

“This represents not only our commitment to having the most advanced technology for the best possible patient care but also another example of how BVHS is continually reinvesting in those we serve,” Jaynes said.

“Bluffton is a community hospital, and we get to know our patients,” Kirkpatrick said. “We have a lot of familiar faces.”