Tri-City Takes Quantum Leap in Medical Imaging

Tri-City Healthcare District approves acquisition of $3 million GE Healthcare Revolution CT computerized tomography scanner

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The Tri-City Healthcare District Board of Directors has approved the purchase and installation of the most advanced computed tomography (CT) scanner on the market enabling its radiologists to make the quickest, most accurate diagnoses possible for their patients.

The GE Healthcare Revolution™ CT scanner is expected to be operational as early as December 2015 which would make Tri-City Medical Center the first provider to offer this medical imaging technology in San Diego County. It can create a full, three-dimensional image of an organ in just one pass and will provide more options for the hospital’s radiology program.

“This device can take a full cardiac image in a heartbeat—literally. It will be of tremendous value to cardiac patients as well as many other patients being cared for on an inpatient, outpatient or emergency basis,” explained Donald J. Ponec, MD, FSIR who is Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and Radiology Services at Tri-City Medical Center. “Our emergency room is the third busiest in San Diego County. We see over 70,000 people per year of which approximately 14,000 require CT procedures. This machine will achieve a significant improvement in turnaround times for patients waiting for CT scan results as well as immediately rule out cardiac disease in those arriving with chest paint.”

At a cost of roughly $3 million, the community has stepped forward to support the acquisition through contributions raised by the Tri-City Hospital Foundation and Tri-City Hospital Auxiliary.

As a designated stroke and heart attack receiving center, the GE Revolution CT will dramatically enhance a physician’s ability to quickly diagnose and treat patients.

A CT scan is a noninvasive and expedient way to look inside the body at organs, soft tissues, vascular structures and bones using X-rays to generate very high-resolution images of the body. It does this by rotating an X-ray source and detector around the patient as the patient is moved through the device.

The GE Revolution CT will allow Tri-City Medical Center physicians to scan entire organs such as the brain, heart, liver and pancreas in a single, 0.28-second rotation, reducing breath-hold times and radiation doses for patients.

“The Revolution CT will help our physicians with its advanced medical imaging capability while creating a more comfortable experience for our patients,” said Tri-City Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Tim Moran. “This investment will produce immediate benefits operationally for the medical center and in quality of care for our community.”

About Tri City Medical Center

Tri-City Medical Center has served its community for over 50 years and is full service, acute-care hospital in Oceanside, Calif. with a primary care clinic and over 500 physicians practicing in 60 specialties. Its Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission recognizes its commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community it serves. It operates the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County as well as an Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, Cardiovascular Health Institute and a Neurological Institute along with the Tri-City Wellness Center in Carlsbad, Calif., recognized as one of the best wellness centers in San Diego County. It also specializes in women’s health, robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care.  Selected from over 5,700 hospitals, Tri City medical Center has been recognized as an innovator in medical treatments, research, technology and care delivery as well as an anchor of health in the country.

For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit www.tricitymed.org.

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