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Do you currently have to travel out of town to receive specialized infusions, injections or other minor procedures? OMHC has these services available here in your hometown! Many times, out of town physicians do not know that this is something that can be done here in Odessa. Here are some examples of what we can do but not limited to:
If you would like to find out more about how we can accommodate your needs, please contact:
Megan Shepard or Caitlin Higley at (509) 982-2611
Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center is proud to offer high-tech medical imaging along with advanced diagnostic equipment. We strive to provide our patients with state-of-the-art technology right here at home, which allows our team of experienced medical personnel to deliver better healthcare for you and your family.
Comprehensive diagnostic services provide improved imagery, faster exam times and less discomfort for our patients. From X-Ray, CT scans and ultrasounds to a variety of preventative screenings and much more, OMHC’s Imaging Department has the expertise and technology to meet your primary diagnostic needs – right here, close to home.
Medical imaging, otherwise known as Diagnostic Imaging or Radiology, is a branch of medicine that uses technology to recreate images of the various parts of the body. The resulting images are used to diagnose, monitor, and treat medical problems.
Although it is a relatively nascent technology, the New England Journal of Medicine tags it as one of the leading medical developments in the last 1000 years. Such an accolade is rightfully earned as medical imaging has undergone rampant developments, from the discovery of X-rays in 1896 to the use of sonar technology for imaging to CT and MRI scans of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Modern-day radiology employs cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL), data analytics, Big Data, and predictive modeling, to name a few, to further enhance its capabilities.
Curious about how medical imaging can help you, and what types of exams exist? Then read on to learn more.
Medical imaging has proven to be life-saving to some patients and even increased the survival rate for certain conditions. Here are a few reasons why medical imaging could be the best suitable option for patients:
True to its name, Diagnostic Imaging helps with diagnosing medical conditions. Physicians can turn to radiology to gain insight into the human body in a painless and non-invasive manner. They can then refer to the highly detailed images to comprehend the underlying issues exacerbating the symptoms or health of a patient. In cases like cancer, such early detection of tumors could call for an immediate intervention that could prevent them from metastasizing and turning terminal.
With medical imaging, it is possible to pinpoint the exact cause and the affected organ or part of the body. This elimination of guesswork makes it easier to quickly devise a treatment plan that targets the issue and mitigates its effect. It could also help physicians in determining the appropriate drug delivery method that can improve its effectiveness.
Once a physician identifies the issue right in the early stages, it not only improves your chances of making a full recovery but also makes healthcare affordable. With medical imaging, your doctor no longer has to resort to invasive diagnostic procedures like angiography, exploratory surgery, or cardiac catheterization. It also prepares the roadmap for preventive care rather than curative treatment.
If you are living with an existing condition that requires continuous monitoring to comprehend the state of the illness, then medical imaging is the best way to measure its development or remission. As mentioned already, it is painless and non-invasive, which is why you can stick with follow-up health checkups and treatments easily.
Before medical imaging advanced into the digital realms, patient data was locally isolated to a select few clinics or hospitals. However, digitization has led to a shareable ecosystem where the medical community can exchange images over the vast online network to seek expert advice from anywhere. Of course, this file-sharing environment adheres to HIPAA standards to maintain patient confidentiality.
While people have had their concerns surrounding radiation, medical imaging equipment manufacturers have made headways in reducing the radiation dose and emissions. Controlling the level of radiation has made medical imaging a lot safer.
Now that you understand the importance and value of medical imaging let’s explore the different types of diagnostic imaging techniques and the technology driving them. If your physician suggests a radiology exam, they might suggest one of the following:
An X-ray is one of the oldest medical imaging techniques to ever be used by humankind. This quick and painless test takes about 10 to 15 minutes and produces images of the different structures within your body, especially the bones. The images are produced through ionizing radiation. X-rays are used to diagnose bone fractures, osteoporosis, arthritis, swallowed items, breast cancer, digestive tract problems, infections, and more. You will be asked to sit, stand, or lay down against a plate to which the X-ray beams are shot to capture the image.
Computed Tomography or CT scans are a series of X-rays that are stacked together to create a three-dimensional cross-section of the inside of the body. It is used to visualize bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. Like an X-ray, CT scans use ionizing radiation to detect injuries from trauma, tumors and cancers, bone fractures, cardiovascular diseases, and infections. It is also used to guide biopsies. While getting a CT scan, you will be asked to lie on a table that slides into a donut-shaped scanner. The X-ray tubes will rotate around you to create the image.
As the name indicates, Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI scans use magnetic fields and radio waves to build detailed images of the tissues and organs inside the body. It is used to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS), tumors, spinal cord disorders, strokes and aneurysms, blood vessel issues, and tendon or joint injuries. The exam takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour, and you will have to lie on a table that slides into the MRI machine. MRI scanners are narrower and deeper than CT scanners and produce loud thumping or tapping noises when in operation, meaning you will receive earplugs to lessen the noise.
An ultrasound is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of the organs and structures within the body. It takes around 30 minutes to an hour to produce ultrasound scans. It is commonly used to monitor pregnancy and fetal growth and is also used to detect gallbladder or kidney issues, breast lumps, genital or prostate diseases, joint inflammation, and blood flow problems. During an ultrasound, the technician will apply gel to your skin and then gently press the probe against it. They then move the probe around to capture the best images on the screen.
Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, is a form of nuclear medicine imaging that uses radioactive drugs, known as tracers, to demonstrate how your tissues and organs are functioning. These tracers are swallowed or injected, after which you have to enter a PET scanner that reads the radiation given off by these tracers. The exam takes 1.5 to 2 hours and is used to detect cancer, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s, seizures and epilepsy, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson’s.In Odessa, we are able to do inhouse X-Ray exams and plan to have CT available by the year 2023. If your care requires another study to be done, our providers at OMHC will work with other facilities to meet your needs. If you are looking for reliable radiology technicians, then head over to Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center.
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