January 20, 2003
All-Digital Cath Lab Comes To Genesis Medical Center
New X-Ray System Lets Doctors And Patients View Cardiac X-Rays In Seconds
Davenport, IA - Heart specialists at Genesis Medical Center can better view and treat coronary artery blockages that could cause heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular damage with the GE Innova™ 2000 all-digital cardiovascular imaging system.
The revolutionary system allows cardiologists to view hard-to-see blood vessels with exceptional clarity under even the most difficult conditions. "This new technology enables faster procedures, requires less radiation exposure and gives us the ability to see details, especially balloons and stents, better than ever," says cardiologist Jon Robken, M.D., Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C. Dr. Robken championed the acquisition of the new flat panel imaging technology.
"The end result is that better images produce better patient care," Dr. Robken adds. "Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States. More than 3,700 patients a year receive a heart catheterization at Genesis Medical Center. Considering these patients will have x-ray coronary imaging procedures done, this new, revolutionary technology has the potential to change patient care dramatically." The Innova 2000 is used in both diagnostic angiograms and angioplasty treatment studies.
The technology, from GE Medical Systems, utilizes GE's breakthrough Revolution digital detector, which replaces conventional x-ray imaging components along with their artifacts and distortions for crisper, cleaner, clearer images. The Revolution™ digital detector reads x-rays passing through the patient's body, creating an almost instantaneous image on a high-resolution monitor. Images from the GE Innova 2000 are viewed, networked and archived electronically in a totally film less fashion.
Doctors also can "zoom in" to look at important areas in greater detail. The computer can adjust the image for the best clarity. That means physicians are seeing more of what they need to see, without the distortions from conventional x-ray systems. Patients at Genesis Medical Center can feel confident that their x-ray images have the excellent quality required for physicians to make a confident diagnosis and perform a therapeutic intervention if required, Dr. Robken says.
"We're bringing the future of cardiac x-ray imaging to patients in the Quad Cities area," he says. "The medical significance of the GE Innova 2000 is similar to the transition from typewriters to computers. It's a revolutionary change in the way we image the heart and related blood vessels that will let us provide excellent care for more patients."
The new imaging technology is a welcome addition to facility renovations designed to upgrade and expand heart care capabilities at Genesis Medical Center. Physicians and staff began using the imaging technology with the newly renovated facilities late last year. One new catheterization lab has been added to raise the number of interventional rooms available to four.
Also scheduled for completion by year's end is a new bi-plane electrophysiology lab that offers two x-ray imaging arms in one room. The new imaging provides a more flexible use of the room, allowing for interventional procedures to take place if needed. The new lab raises the number of E.P. labs available to two.
In addition, two new surgical suites were added in the fall of 2002 to expand open-heart capabilities. All of the heart procedure rooms are located on the second floor of Genesis Medical Center and connected to the Institute building via a skywalk.
View more information about the heart capabilities at Genesis Medical Center or the Genesis Heart Institute's Web site at, www.genesisheart.com.
