Divine Savior Healthcare is proud to announce the addition of a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) imaging system to its state-of-the-art diagnostics fleet. According to Pete Nelson, CFO, Divine Savior Healthcare is one of the first rural medical facilities in the state to offer this innovative technology.

"We have always been committed to providing area residents the best health care possible with enhanced medical services and state-of-the-art technology," Nelson said. "Our new CT system is another example of that commitment - It will provide higher-quality images faster and more safely, and it will allow us to perform additional diagnostic tests in the near future to further meet the needs of our community."   

The LightSpeed VCT CT scanner, manufactured by GE Healthcare, provides doctors with high-resolution images in a fraction of the time previously required, allowing them to more accurately diagnose a wider variety of patient conditions.

"This system gives us the ability to apply CT imaging to a wider set of clinical applications," said Eric Justus, Director of Medical Imaging. "It also reduces the radiation dose a patient experiences."

Originally developed in the 1970s, CT or "CAT" scans combine the power of X-ray technology and computers, allowing physicians the ability to view thin cross-sections of the internal anatomy without the need for exploratory surgery. A CT scan aids physicians in diagnosing disease, viewing internal abnormalities and assessing the extent of trauma damage.

"CT exams are used when patients are ill or injured, or when a physician suspects a medical problem that is not easily detectable from a conventional physical examination or conventional radiograph," says Dr. Kevin Rak, M.D., Board Certified Radiologist at Divine Savior Healthcare. "The 64-slice CT system non-invasively assists physicians in the diagnosis of a variety of anatomical areas, such as the spine, head, abdomen and chest, including detailed imaging of the heart."

"The addition of a 64-slice CT scanner compliments and extends the range of quality diagnostic services that we offer the Portage-area community," Justus said. "It provides us with vastly improved image quality and imaging speed, and it will allow us to perform additional diagnostic tests, while enhancing the overall diagnostic confidence we have in all of our studies."

For more information about CT and other medical imaging services at Divine Savior Healthcare, please call (608) 745-5020 or visit the Diagnostics page on our website.