Keeping Healthy: 64-Slice CT Scanner

If you've ever gotten a cat scan, then you know it's not always the most pleasant experience.  But as technology advances - so do the comfort and quality of medical machinery.  Little Falls Hospital just purchased a brand new 64 slice CT scanner - something the hospital is very proud of.  It uses low dose technology- which allows them to provide accurate scans with lower amounts of radiation

"What 64 slices means is every time it rotates it produces 64 images per rotation, which means we get faster scans, which is easier for the patient because they don't have to hold their breath as long.  A lot of them are in pain or trauma so they're not laying on this bed very long," says Lead CT tech Shannon Kane.  "It's a pretty important tool we use it for almost every body part; we can scan heads, chest, abdomen, we use it for trauma, cancer."

Kane says it's something she loves working with, and says it's such an important tool.

"Not only is it quicker for our patients, they don't have to lay here as long, you still get good diagnostic pictures, but we deliver low dose.  That was the most important factor, everybody is worried about radiation like they should be, we bought the scanner with that in mind."

Thousands of pictures are taken within split seconds - and the amount of time spent in and out of the machine is just about three minutes.  Kane says it's such an easy, quick process for patients - some have even given the technicians hugs after undergoing the scan - and that's what it all comes down to - taking care of her patients

"We wanted to give back to our community.  We have many loyal patients that do come here; most of our patients are our friends, our family--so this was a way of giving back to them by providing a service that still provides good detail but also low dose."