Vista Health System Offers Only Big Bore CT in Chicagoland Area

New advanced CT scanner at Vista’s Surgery Centermakes diagnostic testing more comfortable for larger patients

Waukegan, IL— Beginning April 1, 2009, patients and physicians in the Chicagoland area and Southeastern Wisconsin can access the latest diagnostic imaging technology from Philips Medical Systems at Vista Health System’s Surgery Center in Lindenhurst, IL. The new Brilliance Big Bore CT’s design accommodates larger patients up to 650 pounds and those wearing bulky apparatus, such as casts or monitoring equipment. Vista Health System’s Surgery Center, located at 1050 Red Oak Lane, is the only medical facility in the Chicagoland area outfitted with the new Big Bore CT scanner.

What’s so Great About This CT Scanner?
Historically, larger individuals have had difficulty finding diagnostic equipment in which they can be safely and effectively imaged. This CT has a larger “bore” or opening than traditional CT scanners. This advanced CT system provides a more comfortable patient experience. The computed tomography scanner produces crisp, detailed images of the body in mere seconds. All CT scanners use X-rays. However, this state-of-the-art CT uses a significantly lower amount of X-ray energy than many of the other CT systems on the market. Computed tomography can help doctors detect and treat many life-threatening diseases, as well as evaluate and treat trauma patients.

“At Vista, we care about our patients’ safety and comfort. Our Radiologists are board certified and fellowship trained, and the new Big Bore CT provides advanced imaging for all of our patients. And for our bariatric patients, it offers a diagnostic opportunity that they might not be able to find elsewhere,” said Gina Barrett, Manager of Vista’s Imaging Center, Surgery Center and MRI Institute.

About Vista Health System:
With locations in Antioch, Grayslake, Gurnee, Lindenhurst and Waukegan, Vista Health System’s network includes two hospitals—Vista Medical Center East and Vista Medical Center West; a stand-alone, same-day surgery and treatment center; and several locations for imaging and physical medicine. Vista’s medical facilities have been serving the healthcare needs of those in the community for more than 110 years. For more information, visit www.vistahealth.com.

About CT Scans
A CT scan (sometimes referred to as a “CAT” scan), produces a cross-sectional image of the human anatomy which helps rule out or confirm the presence of certain disease, and in some cases to evaluate the extent of injuries to a trauma patient, such as someone involved in an automobile accident. During the non-invasive test, the patient is placed on a table and moved incrementally through the scanner while an X-ray beam is projected through cross sections of his or her anatomy.
The X-ray energy passes through the patient and is recorded on electronic detectors in the scanner. This information is then sent to a specialized computer that reconstructs the information into individual slices and combines them sequentially into a comprehensive image of the entire areas scanned.