MHM Authority approves nuclear medicine system upgrade

Published 9:55 am Monday, April 26, 2021

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Memorial Hospital and Manor is looking to replace its current nuclear medical system, a Siemens Orbiter Nuclear Gamma Camera, approving a motion at the monthly authority meeting to purchase a replacement. Installed 35 years ago, parts are no longer manufactured for the machine, which has forced the hospital to look to stores that scavenge them. This has meant the machine can be down for two to three weeks at a time. In addition, all scans must currently be printed out and scanned into the hospital’s computer.

Now, thanks to money from an anonymous donor, the hospital is looking to purchase a refurbished Dual-Head Gama Camera. This machine requires renovation on a new room for it, which will include the installation of a hot lab for the radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine. This new machine will decrease the amount of time spent on whole-body bone scans, while time on other scan types will remain the same. The new system will be entirely digital, replacing the dated printing and scanning. The renovation and installation time is expected to take 8-10 weeks, with renovations set to start Monday.

“We’re excited for the new technology and the ability to improve patient business here,” Jamey Whitaker, hospital manager of radiology, said in an interview.

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The total cost for the new system is $128,975, while the total cost, factoring in renovations, is $156,304.