NMC Commentary
11.06.2018

Is NMC Diagnostic Imaging Now Fully Digital?

Yes! NMC has been transitioning our diagnostic imaging technology away from the traditional cassette-based equipment and we are now fully digital.  All of our x-ray, mammography, ultrasound, CT-scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now digital.  This is a wonderful step forward in NMC’s continued pursuit of exceptional care for our community.

By going digital, we now need to use far less radiation in many of our exams to acquire high-quality images. NMC follows the “Image Gently, Image Wisely” campaigns of the American College of Radiology and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.  Their pledge calls on our staff to put our “patients’ safety, health, and welfare first by optimizing imaging examinations to use only the radiation necessary to produce diagnostic-quality images.”

Not only is digital imaging better for our patients, it improves the speed and efficiency of the care we provide as well. No longer do our technologists have to take the cassette from the x-ray  unit to a processor and wait for it to develop. Now, a technologist takes an image and can review it immediately to ensure it was captured correctly. This is particularly advantageous when we are using our mobile technology to take images of our inpatients. Additionally, our digital images are stored in our PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System), allowing them to be viewed by providers anywhere within our facility and can even be sent to providers at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

With Breast Cancer Awareness month just concluding, I would like to remind the women of our community of the importance of mammography.  Please speak to your primary care provider about the schedule for mammography that is right for you given your age and personal history.  Early detection is important, so don’t put off your exam. To schedule a mammogram either at NMC or at our satellite location in Georgia, please call our Diagnostic Imaging Department at 524-1058.  In addition, this week is National Radiologic Technology week – please join me in thanking these wonderful Diagnostic Imaging professionals for their role in keeping us healthy!

— Jill Berry Bowen, RN, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer