BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Cardiac care is getting more advanced in the greater Lehigh Valley.
Two of the area’s major health care systems have added new imaging systems in an effort to produce faster, more precise results to heart patients.
This fall, both Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke’s University Health Network added new CT scanners, known as CAT scans, to their outlying hospitals.
“The GE HealthCare Revolution Apex 8 Cardiac CT scanner’s ability to capture the clearest images of the heart at rest is unparalleled in our area and nothing short of remarkable.”Geisinger St. Luke’s President Gabe Kamarousky
St. Luke’s recently cut the ribbon on its GE Revolution Apex 8 Cardiac CT scanner at Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County.
The machine is a type of computed tomography scanner that uses x-rays and computers to produce cross-sectional images of the body.
“The GE HealthCare Revolution Apex 8 Cardiac CT scanner’s ability to capture the clearest images of the heart at rest is unparalleled in our area and nothing short of remarkable,” Geisinger St. Luke’s President Gabe Kamarousky said.
Kamarousky started in health care as a CT technician.
'Biggest upgrade in CT technology'
The technology is used to take pictures of the heart to determine whether a patient has a clogged-coronary artery. It aid doctors in diagnosing a heart attack or other serious conditions.
These serious conditions can lead to interventional treatment such as cardiac catheterization, stenting or bypass surgery.
“The speed of the scanner enables us to acquire crisp images of the cardiac structures in the very brief moment when the heart is at rest in-between beats."Dr. David Furman, Director of Computed Tomography, St. Luke’s
“[It’s] the biggest upgrade in CT technology that I have experienced in my career,” said Dr. David Furman, St. Luke’s Director of Computed Tomography.
“The speed of the scanner enables us to acquire crisp images of the cardiac structures in the very brief moment when the heart is at rest in-between beats.
"This will quickly become the first test cardiologists turn to, helping many patients avoid the need for more invasive cardiac catheterization."
The scanner also can be used to diagnose strokes, traumatic injuries and complex neurological conditions.
Patients who go through the CT scanner and are diagnosed with a serious condition may have to be transferred to one of St. Luke’s or Geisinger’s main hospitals for further care.
'Advanced care ... at local hospital'
Not long after St. Luke’s new CAT scan was unveiled, Lehigh Valley Health Network announced it, too, has new CT scanner technology.
The network installed the SpotLight Duo cardiac CT scanner at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s cardiac diagnostic center in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County.
The SpotLight Duo at LVHN provides high-quality cardiac imaging
“It’s our goal to offer our cardiac patients complete care with the right talent, resources and technology,” said Dr. Kunal Patel, a clinical cardiologist at Lehigh Valley Heart & Vascular Institute.
“With the SpotLight Duo, we now have technology only previously available at large metropolitan hospitals and research institutions.
"We can provide patients with the advanced care they need from their local community hospital.”
Cut travel for medical attention
With the new machine, the goal is to improve planning at LVHN for coronary procedures, including TAVR, vascular assessments, electrophysiology procedures, calcium scoring, peripheral interventions and planning for additional cardiac procedures.
“This technology provides more accurate imaging and diagnostics for patients with conditions that make their hearts more challenging to image."Dr. James Newcomb, Department of Radiology & Diagnostic Medical Imaging, LVHN
“This technology provides more accurate imaging and diagnostics for patients with conditions that make their hearts more challenging to image, whether due to variability or other factors,” said Dr. James Newcomb, vice chairman of LVHN's Radiology & Diagnostic Medical Imaging Department.
Much like the technology at St. Luke’s, the CT scanner at LVHN is a single beat, whole heart scanner. The imaging uses artificial intelligence to provide better quality pictures of the heart and other sections of the body.
Bringing new technology to places that previously lacked access to care, such as Orwigsburg and Gilbertsville, is an effort by both hospital systems to improve the health of their patients across the region and cut down the distance people have to travel to get medical attention.
