Blessing Health System Enhances Imaging Services with New PET/CT Scanner
Blessing Hospital in Quincy has recently incorporated a cutting-edge GE HealthCare Omni Legend PET/CT scanner, providing local physicians with advanced tools for detecting and monitoring conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, and heart disease. This addition aims to alleviate the travel burden for patients from west-central Illinois, northeast Missouri, and southeast Iowa, who previously had to travel up to two hours for advanced imaging.
Understanding PET/CT Scans
PET/CT scans are unique as they assess both the structure and functionality of organs and tissues. This dual imaging technique supports physicians in evaluating a variety of health issues, allowing for diverse applications from one machine.
Local Access to Specialized Scans
The introduction of the Omni Legend scanner is framed as a solution to regional travel challenges, allowing patients access to specialized scans without needing to head to larger urban centers. While Quincy Medical Group has been performing PET/CT scans since summer 2020 at its Cancer Institute, Blessing’s new scanner will offer more advanced capabilities, aimed at taking over some of the specialized imaging that still required trips to metropolitan areas.
Community Impact
Other local hospitals are also enhancing their services. For example, Columbus Community Hospital in Nebraska has opened its Mead Family Cancer Center, equipped with an in-house Siemens PET/CT scanner.
Patient-Centric Facilities
The imaging experience at Blessing Hospital is designed with patient comfort in mind. Patients can relax in private rooms before the scan in a calming environment, complete with soothing décor and lighting. The use of artificial intelligence in positioning patients further enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the imaging process.
Current and Future Offerings
Currently, the program provides whole-body, skull-to-thigh, and brain imaging, as well as evaluations for prostate cancer. Future plans include imaging for neuroendocrine tumors, amyloid brain imaging, and cardiac PET imaging.
Community Celebration
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new imaging system will take place on November 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Blessing Hospital, with tours of the new facilities available for the public.
For further information, patients and community members can visit the hospital’s main entrance at 11th and Spring streets.
