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TOMS RIVER, New Jersey, September 5, 2006 – With the recent acquisition of the 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, Community Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, is once again leading the way, offering one of the most modern and technologically advanced diagnostic imaging programs in the region. According to hospital officials, the new system is the only hospital-based MRI of its field strength and capabilities in all of Ocean and Monmouth counties.
“Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a diagnostic procedure that uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to scan the body and produce highly detailed images of organs and structures that cannot be seen on conventional X-rays,” explains Joseph Triolo, M.D., chairman of the hospital’s state-of-the-art radiology department.
According to Dr. Triolo, there are numerous advantages to using MRI over other diagnostic techniques. MRI is painless, non-invasive, and when patients are properly screened prior to the study, there are no known side effects. By obtaining information that other technology cannot capture, MRI can lead to earlier detection and treatment of disease. Its impact is far-reaching, with implications for physicians in fields ranging from neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, gastroenterology, vascular surgery, endocrinology, urology, and oncology.
“The industry standard magnetic field strength for most current MRI systems is 1.5-Tesla, which we also have here in the radiology department at Community Medical Center,” he explains. “This new piece of technology has double the field strength, or signal, which allows us to acquire twice as much information as the standard 1.5-Tesla Systems. This gives us great flexibility to either perform very detailed exams for the more challenging diagnostic cases, or scan twice as fast for patients who cannot tolerate the time it takes for routine exams at 1.5-Tesla.”
“With the 3.0-Tesla MRI, a brain exam will now take five to 10 minutes versus 15 to 20 minutes if done on a 1.5-Tesla machine,” Dr. Triolo explains. “The imaging results will be more detailed and that 10-minute reduction in exam time will mean a great deal in terms of our patients’ comfort level.”
The new MRI is larger – wider and shorter – than conventional MRI equipment, making it more accessible and much more comfortable for patients undergoing diagnostic procedures. Because of its size and software configuration, the new 3.0-Tesla is also capable of performing body scans, making it easier for patients in need of scans of the liver, kidney, prostate, rectum or abdomen. The higher resolution makes the 3.0-Tesla particularly useful in neurological imaging to evaluate the intricacies of brain tumors, strokes, and other brain abnormalities.
The new 3.0-Tesla MRI will also be equipped with a new state-of-the-art breast coil, which adds to the complete comprehensive breast care already offered by Community Medical Center. Dr. Triolo adds, “This will give us a new tool for the early detection of breast cancer and has its greatest impact on high-risk patients or patients with so called‘dense breasts,’ where mammography is less sensitive in the detection of breast cancer. We will also have the capability to perform biopsies with MRI guidance, which is crucial since MRI may be the only modality capable of identifying the cancer. This essentially completes the range of services offered for the diagnosis and management of breast cancer.”
“For our patients, this new technology means not only faster, more comfortable diagnostic procedures, but also the added reassurance that comes from knowing they’re getting the highest quality imaging and diagnostic capabilities available in the region, right here at Community Medical Center,” concludes Dr. Triolo.
Community Medical Center (CMC) is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey, with nine acute care hospitals, nine nursing homes, five ambulatory care facilities, three geriatric centers, three assisted living residencies, a freestanding 100-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and a statewide behavioral health network. Located in Toms River, Community is a fully accredited, acute-care 596-bed facility offering the most advanced, ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment services, including emergency and urgent care, laser and arthroscopic surgery, maternity and a Level II special care nursery and pediatrics unit. CMC offers the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center, affiliated with the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology; a Renal Dialysis Center; a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, as well as general medical and health care services to the residents of Ocean County; and the Center for Kids and Family with sites located in Toms River and Lacey. Community Medical Center has been awarded the esteemed Magnet Status for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Association's Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Contact: Jason R. Baran
Public Relations Specialist
(732) 557-3909
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