New Direct Digital C-ARM machine installed at Scarborough General

Home*Cover Story*News

New Direct Digital C-ARM machine installed at Scarborough General

Scarborough General Hospital of the Imaging, and the Orthopaedic Departments recently received and installed a new and modern Direct Digital C-ARM machine.

The C-ARM machine is portable, that it can be used to provide medical imaging inside the Operating Theatre or anywhere in the hospital.

The machine is used for Orthopaedic surgery, general surgery and urology. The machine also has the potential for cardiac surgery applications. This new Direct Digital C-ARM machine replaces the old analog one, and according to Jefferson Guy, Biomedical Engineer at the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), this new machine is in line with modern technology in healthcare.

With this new Direct Digital C-ARM machine we have the opportunity to follow-up a lot further, that is, the doctor can now identify and state what was there before, and see its progression. Information can also be collected for training,as well as, we can now network with persons outside of the organisation if necessary, and it can be stored on the hospital’s PAC (Picture Archiving and Communication) system where the opportunities are limitless.”

He further explained that the replacement of the old machine was necessary since it was obsolete and that parts were no longer being manufactured for it.

Dr. Seun Harewood, Consultant (Ag.) Orthopaedic Surgery identified the clinical importance to patient care. He stated, “Economically, the purchase of this machine reduces costs to the organisation, and the patient, as a trip to Trinidad via air ambulance transfer is $50,000.00. It is possible the patient may have to go on a waiting list before the procedure is done, so the C-ARM machine cuts the wait time for the patient in Tobago. Emergency and urgent Orthapaedic cases requiring manipulations, closed reductions and open reductions and internal fixations can be done again in Tobago.

Dr. Harewood further added that the addition of this machine is a basic and compulsory part of Orthopaedic service. “In order to establish the institution as a Level 1 Trauma Centre, certain things must be done to get that achievement, and the purchase of this machine takes us one step closer. We are now that much closer to providinggold standard Orthopaedic care for all trauma patients that present to the Scarborough General Hospital.”

Training for this machine was conducted virtually which included Nurses, Radiographers, and the Technical Support and Software.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 0
DISQUS: 0