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Imaging Department
Recent renovations are not the only changes for Ashe Memorial Hospital Radiology Department. To better reflect what services are available the name has been changed to Ashe Memorial Hospital Imaging Department. The Imaging Department is not just X-ray anymore. Imaging consists of several different areas.
Nuclear Medicine:
The Nuclear Medicine section uses radioactive isotopes that collect in different parts of the body and can be detected by a Dual Head Gamma Camera. The Gamma Camera then sends the information to a computer workstation that produces an image as well as measuring function of the organ being imaged. The Technologist is specially trained to operate this state of the art Nuclear Medicine equipment.
CT:
The Cat Scan section house a state of the art GE Brightspeed 16 slice scanner. The CT scanner uses a narrow X-Ray beam to image thin slices of the anatomy and is sent to a computer for reconstruction of the body part being imaged. The computer can the manipulate that information into different views so that the image can be viewed in several different ways such as from the top looking down, from the side looking front to back , and from the front looking side to side. All of this is done with just one pass through the scanner.
Ultrasound:
The Ultrasound section uses sound waves to obtain a real time image that the technologist produces using an ultrasound probe. The technologist views the images on a video screen and takes pictures through out the exam that are placed on film and stored for review in the future.
Mammography:
The Mammography section utilizes a specially designed X-ray unit that only does Mammography. The Mammography section is the most highly regulated section of Imaging. Mammography is monitored and checked annually by the FDA and State of North Carolina to see that all of the quality measure set forth by law is met. Ashe Memorial Hospital recently installed a new tool in the fight against breast cancer. We recently installed a Computer-Aided Detection (CAD), iCAD's Second Look system helps up provide a better breast cancer screening at Ashe Memorial Hospital Imaging Department. Computer-Aided Detection uses a computer to analyze mammograms. The computer does not replace the radiologist who reads the mammograms, it merely acts as a "second opinion" for the physician. It can alert the physician to take a closer look at subtle warning signs that might easily be missed. In fact, the use of computer-aided detection is expected to reduce the number of breast cancers missed.
MRI:
The MRI section currently utilizes a mobile unit that comes to the hospital two days a week. Images are obtained by sending sound waves into the body to stimulate the electrons that then send a signal to the detectors in the unit. This signal is then sent to a computer where it is reconstructed into several different views of the part of the body being imaged. Very similar to how Cat Scan images are produced by the computer, however radiation is not used to produce the image.
X-Ray:
The X-Ray Section utilizes a collimated X-ray beam to produce an image on film. Several different views are obtained of the body part being imaged. The films are stored for future review by a Radiologist and your Physician. This is the oldest method of imaging but the standard for general practice of medicine.
Bone Density:
The bone density unit utilizes a thin beam of x-ray that passes through the body and is picked up by a detector that uses a computer to analyze the density of the bones that it passes through. This information is then compared to a database of information on bone density based on aged, sex, and the region of the country that the study is performed. It then graphs this information to determine a patient's risk for osteoporosis.
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