RMH Adds Second Ultrasound Machine

8/11/2011

   Richland Memorial Hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging Department continues to add and upgrade equipment in another one of their areas. This time, a new ultrasound machine has been added to relieve some of the workload from the first machine.

   With the addition of this second machine the department is able to avoid scheduling conflicts that would arise with only one machine.

   “We have been seeing high volumes of patients that need ultrasounds. With the second machine it is much easier to work around emergencies or unscheduled cases with less wait for the patient,” comments Jeff Lee, Director of Diagnostic Imaging.

   “Before we purchased the second machine, we would have to schedule ultrasounds several days ahead of time. Now we are able to schedule patients as soon as the next day,” added Brent Pampe, Sonography Supervisor.

   The department employs three full-time sonographers and one PRN (as needed) sonographer.

   The machine uses all the same components of the previous machine, however, features newer technology that assists in procedures such as echocardiograms.

   Another update to the Ultrasound department is the installation of two 32 inch monitors. The monitors are mounted on the wall of the ultrasound room in front of the bed so that the patient can clearly see the images without trying to awkwardly see the small screen on the machine.

    “The new monitors are mainly used in OB ultrasounds so that parents can more closely see the features of their baby,” says Megan Taylor, Sonographer.

   The monitors were added to the department basically as a courtesy for patients.

   “Some patients had commented on other facilities that had the big monitors and how much they enjoyed being able to see everything so clearly. We thought it was a good idea and wanted our patients to be able to view their 4D ultrasound with the finest detail,” commented Lee.

   Previous updates to the department include the state-of-the-art Digital Mammography unit in December of 2010 and the 64-slice CT Scan Machine in 2007.