Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital: Radiology Department.

RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

In our progressive radiology department at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital you will come into contact with one or more of our licensed technologists: Paul Dietz RT (R), Kelsey Vakiner RT (R), Michelle Myers RT (R), and Heather Seitz RT (R).

The radiology department at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital is becoming more state-of-the-art with newer technology. We have recently installed a 16 slice Somatom Emotion Computerized Tomography (CT) machine. This allows us to scan a person quicker than before, which translates into shorter breath holds and less time lying on the table. Picture manipulation is still the option which allows us to get different views without rescanning the person, which means less radiation dose.

Computerized radiography, is completely different than Computerized Tomography (CT), still gets us into the digital era and allows a multitude of options with picture enhancement. This ranges from making the images more distinct to putting narrative on the images. Because of it being digital, this allows quicker processing time as well as sending the images wherever needed to get them read.

We have updated our department, also, to PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System). This is a computer system that allows us to take our radiographs and store them in a computerized system. Storage was a problem when film was used as well as being heavy, which is completely eliminated with a digital computer system. We can store them off site (out of state) and still be able to retrieve them at a moments notice. This facilitates us having a back up if some unforeseen thing would happen locally and all files would be destroyed.

We are currently still sending all exams to Grand Island to be read. Our turn around time on reports has been decreased and helps the patients to get quicker results. We can transfer images/exams to CD and the patient can take them with them to their next appointment. With the PACS, we now can put the report with the exam and save another sheet of paper or better from losing reports.

There are several modalities that are still being utilized as mobile modalities. Included in this area is ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, PET CT, magnetic resonance imaging, vascular. These areas are offered on certain days of the week so feel free to contact the radiology department to find out specific times (308) 946-3015. Some are offered twice a week for customer convenience.