Company Notebook
Country Bank Donation Upgrades Radiography at Baystate Mary Lane
WARE — Country Bank recently pledged $100,000 to Baystate Mary Lane Hospital (BMLH) to help upgrade the general radiography unit located in the radiology department. The current unit is being replaced with a Phillips Easy Diagnost Elva, which provides vastly superior images, stores them electronically, and allows for easy electronic file sharing. The new technology will also reduce the use of actual film and related disposal costs. “This technology is designed to increase staff interaction with the patient at the point of care and make it easier for the patient during their procedure,” said BMLH President Chuck Gijanto. “It will also ensure easy access of the critical diagnostic images for any consulting provider, at BMLH or elsewhere. In addition to the purchase of the Phillips Easy Diagnost Evela, the current Radiology Department is undergoing other renovations, said Gijanto, adding that they are expected to be completed next month.
Noble Earns ‘A’ Rating in Hospital Safety Score from Leapfrog Group
WESTFIELD — Noble Hospital was recognized with an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Score by the Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. The score was compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety. The first and only hospital safety rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety (April 2013), the Hospital Safety Score is designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families. “Noble Hospital is very proud of our patient-safety record. It reflects a commitment to care that is shared by everyone,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Marketing. “This represents our dedication to the community and to providing the best patient care possible.”
PET/CT Imaging Services to Begin at Berkshire Medical Center
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that it is partnering with Baystate MRI and Imaging and Shields Health Care Group in launching PET/CT (positron-emission tomography/computed tomography) imaging services at Berkshire Medical Center. This sophisticated, state-of-the-art imaging service will be provided as part of the new BMC Cancer Program. PET/CT Imaging at BMC combines a PET scanner and a CT scanner into one system. The mobile unit will be at BMC once a week, on Fridays, and will initially be located at the main hospital. It will move to the Hillcrest Campus of BMC in 2014 after additional construction work is completed at that location. The PET/CT service at BMC began operations on May 3. PET/CT had been provided for the past several years at Berkshire Hematology/Oncology at its offices on Conte Drive with a mobile unit, which is being replaced by this service at BMC. PET/CT is one of the most advanced medical imaging techniques available today. It combines PET’s ability to detect increases in cell activity with the fine structural detail that CT scans provide. This revolutionary technology enables physicians to detect the presence of disease earlier and pinpoint its location with much greater accuracy than PET or CT scans alone. The PET/CT information will also feed into the treatment planning technology for radiation oncology to aid in the identification of appropriate field sizes. PET/CT scans are used primarily for the diagnosis and staging of cancer. The technology can also be used for differentiating Alzheimer’s disease from other forms of dementia.
