Diagnostic imaging leader Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has installed its 1,000th MR system worldwide. Kosair Children's Medical Center - Brownsboro, the only pediatric outpatient facility of its type in Kentucky, is the site of Toshiba's milestone installation. The new facility, dedicated to the care of children, is located in the eastern suburbs of Louisville, Ky., and is the newest addition to Kosair Children's Hospital and the Norton Healthcare Network.
“Above the integration of the equipment itself, we're excited about the fact that our pediatric radiologists are aligned with Toshiba's engineers to develop specific imaging protocols and additional imaging coils designed just for use with children”
As one of the only pediatric outpatient centers in the Kentucky area, Kosair Children's Medical Center - Brownsboro will use the Toshiba Vantage Atlas® MR for general radiology imaging, including both cardiac and neuro imaging, for its pediatric population. The Vantage Atlas MR is an ideal system for a pediatric facility because it offers several patient-friendly features, including Toshiba's patented PianissimoTM technology, which reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent. Reducing exam noise creates a more comfortable exam experience and improves patient compliance by helping children relax and stay still during the MR exam process, which can also reduce the need for patient sedation.
"We selected the Vantage Atlas because it offers a quiet, quick and safe exam, which is what's needed in a pediatric setting," said Dr. Jeff Foster, director of Radiology, Kosair Children's Hospital. "Additionally, the Vantage Atlas improves patient care by offering a strong, fast magnet that provides outstanding image quality. Receiving high-quality images allows us to diagnose a patient and develop a treatment plan quickly, which is critical for providing the best care to our patients."
"Above the integration of the equipment itself, we're excited about the fact that our pediatric radiologists are aligned with Toshiba's engineers to develop specific imaging protocols and additional imaging coils designed just for use with children," Dr. Foster added.
Other patient-friendly features of the Vantage Atlas include an integrated coil system to eliminate the need to reposition patients during exams by integrating the coils into the table, creating a faster, more comfortable exam for pediatric patients. The system also enables feet-first imaging for a majority of exams, allowing patients to keep their head outside the bore. Pediatric patients are often nervous while undergoing a MR exam, and feet-first imaging increases their feeling of openness by allowing the patient's head to remain outside the bore.