June 15, 2008
Lead CT Technician James Munn conducted the first CT scan for Harold Kitsick, 13, of Kotlik on June 9, finding out Harold did not have appendicitis.
CT services at Bethel hospital opens for patients
by Danielle Dizon, YKHC Public Relations Staff
A 10-year vision to offer Computed Axial Tomography, known as CAT or CT scanning, at the Bethel hospital has now been unveiled. Until now, patients in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region had to travel to Anchorage to receive the advanced x-ray services.
The long anticipated Siemens 16-slice CT scanning machine went into full operation at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital June 9. Its first patient served was Harold Kitsick, 13, of Kotlik. The CT scan was used to rule out possible appendicitis.
"It was cold in there," said Harold. "But cool."
Harold's mother Carolyn, summed up the reason YKHC has invested in the CT scanner. "We are heading home tomorrow and are very happy we don't have to go to Anchorage to make the trip longer."
"YKHC faces unique challenges in health care, forcing many family members to travel hundreds of miles away from home to receive necessary medical services," said Ray Alstrom, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "CT services are now closer to home for our patients and our medical teams can detect and diagnose for cancer and other severe ailments much quicker."
A CT Scanner is a complex machine used to take detailed pictures of specific parts of the body. The technology displays cross-sections through the body of specific bones, muscles, organs and blood vessels. This imaging capability is much like seeing a picture of a single slice of bread from a whole loaf.
While general conventional x-ray machines take pictures in one plane, a helical CT machine can rotate clear around the body while taking pictures from all angles. It is the chief imaging method used in diagnosing and detecting a variety of cancers, gauging the size of tumors and determining if a cancer has spread to surrounding tissues.
Nearly 2,000 CT scan studies a year were conducted on patients who had to travel to Anchorage for the tests.
"We know that our patients will benefit from these services at our hospital," said Ronnie Fitzpatrick, Director of Diagnostic Imaging. "This enhances the level of services we provide from screening to diagnosis."
The state-of-the art technology is also useful for a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, back problems, fractures or a damaged disk in the spine, and injuries to internal organs.
The need for a CT Scan evolved more than 10 years ago among the YKHC Board of Directors and Tribal Gathering Conference delegates who ranked the CT Scanner as a high priority for improving health services for people in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
With key funding totaling nearly $2 million from the Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association, Indian Health Service, Rasmuson Foundation, Denali Commission, and Bethel Community Service Foundation, the planning, design and construction to install a CT scanner was initiated. A complete space renovation and construction phase began in the fall of 2007.
YKHC's construction team transformed a 14-year-old equipment room into the new CT Scanning Room, completing construction in May. The $1.2 million machine was unwrapped during a special ceremony by Congressman Don Young and YKHC Board Member Kathy Chase of Holy Cross.
"Our Board of Directors, Tribal leaders, management and funding agencies, deserve much appreciation for making this vision now a reality," said Gene Peltola, YKHC President/CEO. "This realization is the result of many dedicated people working together to improve health care for the people of the YK Delta."
