Dignity Health | Be well | Spring 2018

The better to SEE YOU WITH Our doctors depend on imaging technology to diagnose a whole host of health problems— from tumors and strokes to sports injuries and infections. That’s why Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta (MMCMS) has made it a priority to give people in our community access to state-of-the-art technology. The resulting upgrade is a major one. “It will ensure that our technol- ogy is as advanced as that at many major academic centers,” says Dave Hinojosa, CRT(R)(F), Imaging Supervisor at MMCMS. And that means you can be confi- dent in the care you’re getting close to home. Here’s a look at what’s new—or coming soon. Here now: A better, safer CT Installed last fall, our new 64-slice CT scanner provides incredibly detailed images of the body’s bones, organs, and tissues. The scanner has many uses. But it’s especially suited for examin- ing anyone who might have had a stroke or has internal injuries from a car crash or other type of trauma. It’s also an important hometown resource for people with cancer. The scanner helps doctors monitor tumors and the progress of cancer treatment. “So if you’ve been treated for cancer elsewhere, you can have follow-up imaging here,” Hinojosa says. Every CT scan briefly exposes you to low-dose radiation. But the new, speedier scanner minimizes that small dose. “And it reduces radiation without compromising the quality of its images,” Hinojosa says. This makes CT imaging much safer for anyone who needs repeat scans. On its way: A roomier, quieter MRI This summer, MMCMS will also have a newMRI machine. It too delivers faster imaging, which can help speed up diagnosis. Imaging technology gets a crucial upgrade at Mercy Mt. Shasta 8