Collierville, Tenn., June 3, 2005 - Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville now offers faster, more precise diagnoses to patients through the use of a newly acquired CT scanner, which began operation in May.

According to Sean Woodall, director of radiology at Baptist Collierville, the new scanner produces detailed images more quickly than previous technology, allowing physicians to choose the best treatment plans for patients in a more timely manner. The new technology also arms the hospital and medical staff with new diagnostic capabilities and procedures.

Through use of the new CT scanner, which is a Philips MX8000 IDT model, Baptist physicians also will be able to perform detailed studies of the coronary arteries of the heart. This allows heart attack patients or patients with chest pain to have an examination of the heart to determine the need of being transferred to a tertiary care facility for cardiac catheterization or heart surgery.

“This CT will allow the facility to perform advanced imaging that has never been provided at facilities this size,” Woodall said. “These scanners give us the ability to do quick and accurate diagnosis of stroke by helping emergency room and staff physicians to quickly decide a course of action to reverse or at least reduce the negative effects of stroke.”

Other tests that can be performed with the scanners include virtual colonoscopies and detailed examinations of the vessel walls for plaque and blood clots.

For more information about Baptist Collierville’s new CT scanner, please call (901) 861-8907 or visit http://collierville.baptistonline.org.

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