RIDLEY PARK - Taylor Hospital moved into the forefront of cardiovascular care in October 2006 with the opening of a new state-of-the-art digital cardiac catheterization lab.
Taylor is now among the 20 percent of all hopitals nationwide with the most advanced cardiovascular imaging and information system available today. The new GE Innova® system features flat-panel digital detector technology that provides the highest quality images with enhanced clarity and resolution, according to Samuel Ruby, M.D., chief of the Section of Cardiology at Taylor Hospital.
“Our patients will benefit from the greatly enhanced diagnostic capabilities this system affords,” Ruby says. “The new digital equipment enables us to more clearly see the blood vessels, arteries and anatomy of the heart, legs and other parts of the body which enhances diagnostic accuracy. This allows the radiologists to better visualize stents and wires when performing interventional procedures.”
The flat-panel detector technology produces distortion-free images for patients of all sizes. This will enable Taylor’s new cath lab to support the needs of patients who weigh up to about 450 pounds. “This is a significant enhancement because obesity is a major contributor to heart disease and these patients have some of the greatest needs for cardiac cath services,” says Ruby, noting that the lab’s previous weight limit for patients was about 300 pounds.
The lab’s new hemodynamic/cardiac imaging system is integrated with a cardiac information system to provide fully automated electronic medical records for patients. “All information is entered into the system, from the clinical nursing assessment through the final lab report, and it can be accessed from any workstation in the system,” says Trudy Mazzone, administrative director of Cardiovascular Services and Diagnostic Radiology at Taylor Hospital.
The integrated system also offers physicians the benefit of remote access to the digitally stored records through NetAccess, Crozer-Keystone’s secure Internet site. “This improves our efficiency in sharing and obtaining physician feedback and opinions on patient cases,” Ruby says.
Mazzone notes that the new cardiac cath lab was designed with patient safety in mind. “The paperless system improves patient safety by reducing the risks associated with illegible handwriting and information transfer,” she says.
Ruby also notes that the new lab features a state-of-the-art dual chamber power dye injector. “The power injector system allows for the routine use of smaller diameter catheters,” he explains. “This is a benefit to patients because it allows us to use a smaller quantity of IV contrast as well as reducing the chance of vascular complications.
“The new imaging system is more environmentally friendly as well,” Ruby adds. “Since the images are digitally created and maintained, chemicals are no longer needed to develop them.”
Procedures that can be performed in the new lab include coronary and peripheral angiography and peripheral intervention. Peripheral interventions include angioplasty and/or stenting of the renal, iliac, femoral or subclavian arteries.
“With our new state-of-the-art equipment, we plan to expand radiology and cardiology services even further in the future,” Ruby says. “Taylor Hospital’s new cardiac cath lab represents a major investment that demonstrates our strong commitment to providing the most advanced care to the local community we serve.”
To find a Crozer-Keystone cardiologist who’s right for you, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) or visit www.crozer.org.