Columbus Community Hospital offering new PET scanner service

News release:

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are imaging tests that show how tissues and organs are functioning. Columbus Community Hospital offers these tests through a mobile service called Shared Medical Services which visits the hospital once a week on Thursday mornings.

Starting July 30, Shared Medical Services will be offering PET scans at CCH with a new, digital scanner. In the past, the scanner was analog. This new digital scanner allows for better image quality, more detail and faster scan times. Whereas previous scans took around 20 minutes, with the new digital scanner, scans take about 14 minutes.

The new scanner is designed to accommodate patients up to 550 lbs. and it corrects for patient movement and patients’ metal artifacts such as joint replacements or dental or metal implants. 

“This new scanner will benefit our patients because it will offer better image clarity and resolution, while providing reduced imaging times with lower exposure,” said Denise Tomek, director of Diagnostic Imaging at CCH.

Radiologists Dr. Anthony Krueger and Dr. Matthew Pieper with CCH’s North Central Radiology, are happy this new scanner will soon be available for CCH patients.

“We are excited to offer this advanced technology to the communities we serve,” said Krueger.  “The shorter scan time and higher quality imaging will improve the patient experience and care.”

Pieper added that the new scanner’s more precise imaging will decrease ambiguity and lead to better treatment options and fewer problem-solving imaging studies.

“Better technology allows us to be more confident and precise in our interpretations,” he said. “It makes us proud to be able to offer advanced technology to CCH patients to reduce as much as possible the hassle of having to leave the community for medical care.”

For more information on the new scanner or imaging tests available through CCH, visit www.columbushosp.org.