Published: March 24, 2007 03:52 pm      

Quick scan

Radiology department on top of tasks

The radiology department at Navarro Regional boasts some of the most experienced technicians and equipment in the area.

Assistant Director of Diagnostics Service Mark Kutz noted some of the various procedures that are found at the hospital.

“We can do a variety of procedures from an MRI to a CT to mammography and ultra sound,” Kutz said.

Kutz has been with the hospital since 1984. When he first started in the department, a CT scan usually took around 30 minutes and was totally analog.

“We did not have an MRI machine and it was a very archaic procedure,” Kutz said.

Since that time, the department has grown and with that growth has come the advancement of the new machines. Less and less invasive procedures have been installed and the entire facility is digital.

Gone are the days of film screening and obscure cameras and fuzzy reception. Here are the days of instant results.

On echo cardiogram procedures, Kutz said the information is snapped and on the technicians desk in a matter of seconds.

“That way if the picture is off we know right away,” he said.

In the past echo cardiograms were done on VHS tapes. Now they are all on CDs and are all digital.

About 10 years ago, the MRI machine was brought to the department. Kutz said it is cutting edge. The new CT machine is also an upgrade from its predecessor. Kutz said the machine is capable of producing three dimensional reconstructions of a patient thereby making diagnosing a problem that much easier.

“It is all quite impressive,” he said.

Twenty-two year veteran Dr. Leslie Kennedy is the radiologist for the department and Kutz speaks highly of her experience and knowledge.

Director of Diagnostic Services Vicki Arnett said Corsicana is the only city in the area that can claim to have a digital mammography machine.

“All of our techs work exceptionally hard and all multi-task,” Arnett said. “They all generally want what is best for the patient. We are very fortunate to have all of them and Dr. Kennedy.”

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AJ Narasimhan may be contacted via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com