“The Answer Machine.”

That’s what Blue Hill Memorial Hospital’s Dr. Ben Bamford calls the Computed Tomography (CT) scanner.  “When someone walks in here with abdominal pain, a CT scan saves time, staff and financial resources, and -- in many cases, lives -- by getting a correct diagnosis in seconds.”

This is the reason CT scanners have become indispensable tools of the Emergency Department.  And thanks to the generosity of friends, BHMH has a new “multi-slice” scanner.  The $500,000 machine replaces our “single-slice” scanner that was a workhorse for nine years. The new scanner uses six rows of x-ray detectors, compared to one row on single slice scanners.  The new technology comes at a time when Emergency Department volumes are increasing dramatically. Four years ago, the Blue Hill ED was seeing approximately 2,000 patients a year. This year, we expect to treat over 7,500 patients.  

The difference between the two scanners was made clear instantly, according to Steve Votey, who works in the Digital Imaging Department: “Multi slice technology gives more detail and more accurate diagnostic information about structures inside the body. Because these scanners have excellent low contrast resolution, doctors can detect even very small changes in tissue type.”

Because of the better image quality, the new technology is able to detect cerebral aneurysms, carotid artery blockage, abdominal aortic aneurysms, blood clots in the lungs, blockage of the arteries in the legs.

Other benefits include a lower dose of radiation to patients. This is especially important to infants and children whose developing system shouldn’t be exposed to high doses of radiation.

The CT scanner was purchased through donations from the community. To date, $392,000 has been raised in gifts and pledges towards the $500,000 goal.  For more information, call Lynn Boulger, Director of Development and Community Relations at 374-2836 ext. 1003.