Medical ImagingMedical Imaging
Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) Medical Imaging Department has 20+ Medical Imaging Technologists providing General X-ray, Screening, Angiography, Mammography, Ultrasound, CT, Bone Densitometry and Interventional procedures to the residents of North East Victoria on-site in Wangaratta. The department provides a general x-ray service at Alpine Health Myrtleford, Alpine Health Bright and Beechworth Health Service. Ultrasound is also provided through the mobile service to Alpine Health (Myrtleford and Bright), Beechworth, Yarrawonga, Corowa and Alexandra.
NHW Medical Imaging Technologists work with some of the most specialised equipment used in the health service with new techniques and technology available every year. In 2004, NHW installed two state-of-the-art Philips General X-ray units to cater to the steady increase in the number of general x-ray examinations being requested. The NHW Medical Imaging Department has also begun providing DEXA Bone Mineral Densitometry scanning to the Wangaratta and North East Victorian community.
The growth in general x-ray referrals, particularly from Accident & Emergency, saw more than 20,000 examinations take place during 2004.
April 2004 also saw the purchase of a million dollar Computed Tomography Scanner (CT Scanner) propelling NHW Medical Imaging Department amongst the most technologically advanced in Australia. The new technology provided by the Philips 16 multi-slice CT Scanner has enabled NHW to provide faster, more efficient imaging tests to the community as well introducing new imaging tests that previously were not available to this area (such as vascular studies and high resolution 3D imaging).
This equipment has enabled NHW to scan up to 30 patients per day instead of only 16-18 with the old machine. Another advantage of the CT scanner is the amount of time it takes to provide a patient scan: previously it took 12-15 minutes to scan a patient's chest and abdomen whereby the new CT Scanner does it all in just 2-4 minutes.
Two state of the art Philips IU22 ultrasound systems were installed in July 2005. The department is now able to offer 3D scanning for the first time in the region and now has imaging capabilities comparable to most imaging services within Australia.
This new equipment, combined with several design changes to the individual rooms will bring a faster more efficient and 'user friendly' examination to the many patients using this service.
The Medical Imaging Department at NHW is also at the fore-front of modern technology as the department is now completely computerised and offering images to the referring practitioners via the web. All images are now stored on a central archive and can be transmitted to any computer on the NHW network internally.
To make an appointment or for more information please phone 1800 672 253 or (03) 57 220 001.