88th Medical Group celebrates its radiology team

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Pegg
  • 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  

 

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Wright-Patterson Medical Center’s Diagnostic Imaging Flight includes top-notch professionals who are highly educated and trained to take care of patients on base and in a deployed setting. (Contributed photo)
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National Radiologic Technology Week is an annual celebration to recognize the critical work of medical-imaging professionals in delivering safe care to our patient population and commemorate the X-ray’s discovery.

Imaging centers across the country host a variety of events to celebrate “National Rad Tech Week.” They include open houses, educational seminars on radiology history, information booths, free live courses for radiology students and staff outings. Radiologic technologists also get tasty treats and engage in fun team-building games.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists created this week in 1979, and it was originally celebrated in July. This year, it’s recognized Nov. 6-12.

Radiology might seem like modern medicine; however, its history dates back to Nov. 8, 1895, when Wilhelm Roentgen took an X-ray of his wife. At that moment, he took the first X-ray in history. This advancement in medicine allowed for the diagnosis of fractures and other skeleton anomalies.

Although he was not the first person to discover X-rays, he was the first to publish an official study. In fact, the name “X-ray” was created from it as Roentgen used the letter “X” to label the radiation in the formula for his official study.

The 88th Medical Group’s Diagnostic Imaging Department has top-notch professionals who are highly educated and trained to take care of patients on base and in a deployed setting. Wright-Patterson Medical Center’s Radiology Clinic is the second largest in the Air Force and offers numerous services:

  • Our X-ray Department utilizes three brand-new digital/direct capture radiography rooms. We also have two digital fluoroscopy rooms for barium-type studies, which permit real-time imaging and motion of the digestive system. X-ray also has a bone mineral density machine to scan for osteoporosis and other bone abnormalities.
  • The Computed Tomography Department boasts two 64-slice scanners operated by five highly trained technologists. On any given day, the department can scan a brain to rule out an aneurysm or perform highly intricate heart studies. CT is often the preferred method for scanning due to its speed, accuracy and ability to differentiate tissues in the body.
  • The Ultrasound Department utilizes highly advanced ultrasound machines. This clinic performs imaging that ranges from abdominal organs such as the liver and kidneys to carotids and obstetrics. The clinic works in tandem with the Mammography Department to perform diagnostic breast biopsies with ultrasound guidance.
  • The Mammography Clinic performs screening, diagnostic breast imaging and stereotactic biopsies with specialized equipment.
  • The Nuclear Medicine Department has the ability to perform cardiac-stress tests, as well as bone, gallbladder, and positron emission tomography/CT scans.
  • The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Department has the capabilities of extremity and neurological scans. MRI imaging is far superior to most others, because of our ability to see soft-tissue structures. MRI highlights muscles and tendons that CT and X-ray cannot depict.

Department hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Routine radiology exams are walk-in with a physician’s order.

To schedule appointments for bone-mineral density scans, fluoroscopy, CT or ultrasound exams, contact the front desk at 937-257-8760/9443. Call 937-257-0779 for MRI appointments and 937-257-9679 for nuclear-medicine appointments.

The next time you visit Wright-Patterson Medical Center’s Diagnostic Imaging Department, please thank your radiology professionals for the diverse and committed work they do every day in providing ready reliable care to over 66,000 patients.

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