News Page Updated: Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:05 AM PDT

Hospital campaigns for new X-ray equipment

By Melody Gillard-Juarez

Clearer and better X-ray images faster — that’s part of the goal of the communitywide campaign to purchase digital computerized radiography equipment for Southern Coos Hospital’s general X-ray machine.

The machine will replace film-based x-rays with digital images. These images can then be transmitted over the Internet to radiologists, patients’ personal physicians and specialists anywhere in the world – any time day or night. This instant ability to consult with off-site practitioners is impossible with film X-rays, which can only be at one place at a time.

Southern Coos Health Foundation’s Board of Directors is spearheading the drive to raise the $90,000 needed to buy the equipment. Approximately $15,000 has been raised so far.

“With your donations, we can purchase this equipment and help our patients and physicians now,” Foundation Board president David Koch and vice-president Joseph Bain wrote in a letter to community members. “We would greatly appreciate your support. Together, we will bring CR to our X-ray capabilities and truly make a difference in people’s lives.”

With the digital system, X-rays taken at Southern Coos will be transmitted immediately to a radiologist off site. When it’s night here, those images can even be zipped halfway around the world to Australia, where radiologists are up and at work, explained Southern Coos Medical Imaging Director Jeffrey Stitt. The radiologists will study the images, discuss what they are seeing, pencil notations about areas of concern, and send the entire report back to Southern Coos and to any other doctor who is appropriately involved. Not only will the physicians be able to view the image and notations, they will also be able to hear the radiologist after he dictates his report through the hospital’s Patient Archival Communication System.

“With the digital system, you will be getting better and clearer images faster, better diagnosis and outcomes for patients,” said Stitt” This is good for patients and good for doctors.

“This ensures that all relevant information and images go to the doctors looking after the patient,” Stitt added. “Doctors consulting on the care of the patient will be able to see images at the same time.”

Tax-deductible donations may be made to Southern Coos Health Foundation, PO Box 1933, Bandon, OR 97411. Donations can be made on line at www.southerncoos.com/foundation. For more information, those interested can call the foundation office at 329-1040.

(Melody Gillard-Juarez is executive director of the Southern Coos Health Foundation.)