The Scarborough Hospital boasts that it is the first hospital in the world to use two key imaging systems, a major benefit for heart patients who can now get faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments.
The technology is proving particularly valuable for diagnosing health failure in patients of the hospital's heart function clinic.Traditionally, the two systems have been run as separate entities, each with its own operating system.The advanced system allows for digital sharing and analysis of cardiology and radiology images on a secured network. That allows doctors to consult with each other in real time.It also means patients who undergo tests such as echocardiograms, an ultrasound of the heart, can have their procedures done at one of The Scarborough Hospital's two campuses and have their results immediately reported to a doctor at the other site. "Faster reporting is probably the key benefit for both patients and physicians," Dr. Jim Cherry, a cardiologist at the hospital said in a statement."Any time we can speed up that process, we are able to diagnose and treat sooner."Patient care manager Martin Goldstein said the new system is resulting in better patient care."From the time we have an image to the time a report is available...is now a lot faster. It can mean the difference between days and hours," he said."With the progressive use of the new technology, The Scarborough Hospital is speeding patient wait times."