Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, recently installed a 512-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner to provide sharper images while reducing exposure to radiation. The new CT scanner is part of the hospital’s six-month cardiac catheterization expansion project, which also includes a hybrid operating room that combines an image-guided interventional suite and advanced surgical technology in one place.

With the convergence of whole organ coverage, image quality and speed found in the latest-generation CT scanner, Frye Regional’s physicians are now able to diagnose even the most challenging cases. The technology will enable clinicians to diagnose more patients with erratic or high heartbeats; and provides patients with low-dose scanning capabilities for cancer diagnosis and follow-up, among other clinical advances. It also allows for detailed bone imaging, even for patients with metal implants.

CT is a non-invasive and expedient way to look inside the body at organs, soft tissues, vascular structures and bones using x-rays to generate high-resolution images of the body. It does this by rotating an x-ray source and detector around the patient as the patient is moved through the device.

The wide coverage of Frye Regional’s 512-Slice CT system allows healthcare providers to scan entire organs such as the brain, heart, liver and pancreas in a single 0.28 sec rotation, reducing breath hold times for patients. Additionally, the speed of this new technology allows providers to gather information about function as well as anatomy, enabling a comprehensive stroke assessment of the brain in a single exam, for example.

Construction is also nearing completion for Frye Regional Medical Center’s new cardiac catheterization lab and hybrid operating room (OR). While the concept of a hybrid OR is not entirely new to healthcare, the expanded scope will allow Frye Regional physicians to perform complex open heart surgical procedures with a minimally invasive approach.

For more information or a physician referral, call 828-315-3391 or visit www.MyFryeRegional.com.