Saturday CT Exams Starting in February

We know you’re busy.  That’s why Framingham Union Hospital started offering non-contrast Saturday CT appointments from 8am-11am.  We also have early morning appointments starting at 7am and evening appointments until 7:30pm, so you don’t have to skip a beat.  Plus, our brand new ultra-fast scanner will get you in and out in no time at all.  In fact, most of our CT appointments take less than 30 minutes.  You can depend on MetroWest Medical Center to deliver the best, most innovative imaging services with a compassionate touch.  

 

MWMC Completes Measures to Reduce CT Radiation Dose

 Two new studies published by the Archives of Internal Medicine in December caution against the overuse of CT scans and other medical technologies that use radiation.  Although all CT scanners have to use some amount of radiation to create images of the body, MWMC is doing our part to limit our patients’ exposure to radiation.  MWMC’s new SOMATOM Definition CT scanner uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure only the dose that is clinically relevant to the patient is applied.  Another way we’re monitoring dose is by having our equipment inspected every 6 months to promote low dose protocols.  

Dr. Amy Berrington, an author on both studies stated that despite these concerns, CT scans provide "great medical benefit.” And "on an individual basis, if the scan is justified, then the benefits should outweigh the risks."  

 

MetroWest Purchases State-of-the-Art CT Scanner

At MetroWest Medical Center, we’re committed to bringing the latest technology to our local communities. That’s why we are proud to announce the addition of a new CT scanner at Framingham Union Hospital. Framingham Union Hospital is one of the first in the nation to install the SOMATOM® Definition AS from Siemens Healthcare. The SOMATOM Definition AS is the world’s first CT scanner that adapts to virtually any patient, provides each person with complete dose protection and offers clinicians improved diagnostic information.  

“The SOMATOM Definition AS will give us a level of flexibility for CT scanning that we have never had before, providing the ability for almost any kind of exam, from vessel imaging, cardiac tests to cancer staging, on any type of patient, according to the needs of the individual,” said Dr. Thomas Cummings Director of CT Imaging at MetroWest Medical Center. “With the SOMATOM Definition AS system, our clinicians can improve patient care, from initial diagnosis, throughout treatment, to the team they leave.”  

 

MWMC Now Performs Lateral Vertebral Assessments

Did you know that 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 5 men over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime? Fractures can lead to hospital stays, immobility, and even death. That’s why it’s important to screen patients for osteoporosis by using bone density scanning (DXA). MetroWest Medical Center offers bone density screenings at our Wellness Center and is now able to perform Lateral Vertebral Assessments (LVAs) during the same appointment. LVA is a low-dose x-ray examination of the spine to screen for vertebral fractures. The LVA test adds only a few minutes to the DXA procedure and is performed on the same machine. Medicare and most health insurers cover the cost of a bone density test for at risk patients every two years. Ask your doctor today about bone density tests at MetroWest Medical Center because the information you gain about the health of your bones could save your life.