MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In keeping with WVU Healthcare’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care, the WVU Heart Institute has acquired new, state-of-the-art cardiac imaging technology to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer.
The Heart Institute’s new D-SPECT nuclear cardiac imaging system produces high quality images while allowing for increased patient comfort, as the system is customizable to suit each patient’s individual needs. Additionally, the camera dramatically cuts scan times when compared to systems currently in use: the 15 to 18 minutes it takes to produce a set of images can now take as little as two to five minutes per set with D-SPECT.
One American dies every 39 seconds of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Early detection of cardiovascular disease leads to better outcomes for patients, and while nuclear cardiology procedures are helpful, there are several variables that can affect the accuracy of a diagnosis.
“With standard nuclear testing, we have to consider a wider margin of error based on many factors,” Conard F. Failinger, III, M.D., director of non-invasive cardiac imaging at WVU Healthcare, explained. “These include the skill of the technologist performing the examination, the type of equipment used, and the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician. Current methods are very good and reliable, but this new technology will make good imaging even more accurate and efficient.”
On the cutting edge of cardiovascular diagnostics, D-SPECT’s high sensitivity and reduced scanning time not only increase safety and patient comfort, but the efficiency improvements allow patients more scheduling options. Shorter scan times mean more patients can be seen in the course of a day.
“This system is not only significantly faster than what we have used in the past but safer,” Dr. Failinger added. “Both patients and medical staff are exposed to far less radiation than that used by conventional imaging systems. It’s a tremendous leap forward.”
The WVU Heart Institute is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), a designation earned through thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” on which patients can rely as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Nuclear Cardiology.
To learn more about the WVU Heart Institute, visit http://wvuhealthcare.com/hospitals-and-facilities/wvu-heart-institute/.
Attention reporters and photographers: demonstrations of the D-SPECT imaging system will be scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. To schedule an interview or visit, please contact Leigh Limerick at 304-293-7087.