SignatureCare Emergency Center Introduces ASIR Technology
Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 14, 2015 -- Patients at SignatureCare’s Mission Bend emergency center can now receive sophisticated, higher resolution CT Imaging with a lower radiation-dose right at the facility, thanks to the recent acquisition of a 64-slice GE CT machine with ASIR technology.
“We’re excited to be able to offer this level of treatment to patients,” says SignatureCare Emergency Center Medical Director Aaron Braun M.D. “Most freestanding ER’s, and even some hospital ER’s, don’t have this kind of technology in-house.”
ASIR is Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction, and what it does is lower the amount of radiation used on the patient until it reaches the minimum it needs for a good image, says Dr. Braun. “This is very different from other types of imaging equipment, which tend to use a preset amount of radiation on every patient.”
The innovative technology means the radiation dosage used on patients is reduced by up to 40% in some cases, while at the same time improving the quality of the image by cutting out image noise. Because of its faster processing ability, the use of ASIR also lowers the amount of computing time required to produce the results. It does this by focusing on statistical analysis instead of modeling system optics in the iterative algorithm.
“ASIR has additional benefits too,” says Dr. Braun. “One of these is the opportunity it gives us to examine areas such as the pancreas.” The method can be used at different strengths, which vary between 10% and 100%. Although this results in the images having an artificial-looking, “plastic” appearance, he believes radiologists adapt quickly to the different appearance of the images.
“Patients don’t typically know or notice the difference in technology,” says Dr. Braun. Using this method has helped radiologists to provide confident diagnoses to patients, even after testing with much lower radiation doses than were possible earlier.
While CT scans are very helpful in diagnosis and management of various medical issues, repeated scans can increase a patient’s risk of developing cancer later in life.
“It’s up to us as healthcare professionals to focus on keeping our patients’ risk as low as possible,” says Dr. Braun. “And to our team at SignatureCare Mission Bend, that’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”
For more information about SignatureCare Emergency Center visit http://www.ercare24.com.
About SignatureCare Emergency Center
Licensed by the Texas Department of Health Services, SignatureCare Emergency Center offers state-of-the art medical imaging including X-Rays, CT, ultrasound, a comprehensive on-site laboratory and ambulance services to the greater Houston area. Our emergency room is fully staffed with medical professionals of all types, including board-certified physicians, licensed nurses, radiology technicians, emergency-trained ancillary staff and more. With unparalleled efficiency, shorter wait times, a convenient location and a comfortable setting, SignatureCare Emergency Center your best choice when an emergency arises.
SignatureCare Emergency Center – Mission Bend | Sugar Land
8910 Highway 6 S Houston, TX 77083
(281) 258-4351
SignatureCare Emergency Center – Montrose
1007 Westheimer Houston, TX 77007
(281) 479-3293
Aaron Braun, M.D., SignatureCare Emergency Center - Mission Bend | Sugar Land, http://www.ercare24.com/mission-bend-sugar-land, +1 (281) 479-3293, [email protected]
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