Seton NW has a new MRI machine

[cat lady]

I saw this posted in my Impact Newsletterand thought it might be helpful people in the area. St Davids and Seton are both revamping 2 of their hospitals and one of the things Seton NW has done is put in a new MRI machine that accepts patients up to 500 pounds.

 

Seton Northwest's New MRI machine

 

Austin, TX (May 7, 2007) - Seton Northwest Hospital has installed an Espree Open Bore 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that combines a larger opening for obese and claustrophobic patients with the ability to capture higher quality diagnostic images.

 

"Certainly all patients, regardless of size or anxiety level, deserve the same access to advanced medical imaging used to diagnose and treat cancer, heart and vascular disorders and other diseases," said Dr. Chris Butschek, radiologist and Medical Director of Imaging for Seton Northwest Hospital. "The larger opening on the new Espree MRI will make patients more comfortable and help reduce the need to interrupt or repeat exams."

 

Key features of the Espree Open Bore 1.5 Tesla MRI include almost one foot of open space between a patient's head and the magnet, ability to accommodate most patients who weigh up to 500 pounds, and a body coil design that captures the highest resolution images in a shorter amount of time.

 

The new MRI at Seton Northwest will also significantly enhance breast health services in the area. The MRI will be complemented with a breast coil for breast MRI exams and MRI-guided breast biopsies.

 

"The American Cancer Society recommends that women with an especially high risk of developing breast cancer have MRIs along with their mammograms," added Butschek. "Patients at Seton Northwest with key risk factors for breast cancer will have access to the best technology for early detection."

 

"Seton Northwest now offers North Austin and surrounding communities advanced imaging services close to home," said Charles Durant, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Seton Northwest Hospital. "Looking ahead, the addition of this MRI is an important step toward Seton Northwest's goal to become a Certified Stroke Center."

 

The Seton Family of Hospitals is the leading provider of health care services in Central Texas with 23 locations throughout the region. The Seton Family of Hospitals includes the only Heart Transplant Center in Central Texas; the busiest Level II Trauma Center in the state; and the first two Designated Stroke Centers in Texas to receive a Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The Seton Family of Hospitals has been awarded four Magnet Designations, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC is an independent subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, the nation's largest organization of nursing professionals. In FY 2005, Seton, a member of Ascension Health, the largest not-for-profit health network in the nation, provided more than $247 million in charity and community benefit to Central Texans.