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KRMC IMPLEMENTS ADVANCED CARDIAC IMAGING TECHNOLOGY

Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) announced today that it has recently implemented a new state-of-the-art TeraRecon® Aquarius workstation that enables doctors to view the functioning of a patient’s heart and cardiovascular system without an invasive procedure.

The workstation will be used in conjunction with the hospital’s Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) scanner, which was installed last year. The VCT is a new type of 64-slice computed tomography scanner (also known as a CT or CAT scan), which can capture remarkably accurate images of a beating heart in five heartbeats, an organ in one second, and the whole body in ten seconds— more than twice as fast as conventional multi-slice CT scanners. (This speed is especially helpful in shortening the time an elderly or ill patient must hold their breath during the procedure.)

KRMC acquired the Aquarius workstation to better view and analyze the data-rich images from the VCT scanner. The workstation’s advanced software and large memory produce a “virtual” 3D visualization of the heart’s anatomy, rather than just individual surgical slices. With this, physicians can examine various heart structures, including arteries, veins, and valves.

The workstation also allows doctors to view the motion and pumping action of a patient’s heart by animating sequenced VCT images. They can essentially watch a “movie” of the beating heart from any angle and detect even subtle variations from the norm. Wall motion, valve motion, and other complex elements of the cardiac cycle can be observed in detail.

“This new imaging capability can help physicians more precisely diagnose a specific heart condition with very little discomfort to the patient,” says Bill Crome, KRMC Imaging Services Director. “This enables them to target the most appropriate and effective treatment for the condition.”

Now with cutting-edge cardiac imaging capabilities along with its newly expanded Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, KRMC provides sophisticated cardiovascular diagnostic and treatment services that rival most large urban healthcare centers.

 

Photo Caption: Detailed image of a human heart as seen from an Aquarius workstation.

Kingman Regional Medical Center provides a full range of health and wellness services, including a beautiful wellness and fitness center, a primary care physician practice (Cerbat Medical Center), advanced medical programs in cardiology, cancer, and rehabilitation, and home health and hospice care. KRMC has 213 licensed beds and is Joint Commission accredited. The hospital employs over 1,200 employees, 150 volunteers, and 100 physicians/ allied health professionals who embrace our hospital's non-profit mission of "Serving Our Community with Compassion and Commitment." We are also honored to serve as a teaching hospital in affiliation with Midwestern University to train doctors specializing in family practice, dermatology and emergency medicine.