Diagnostic Imaging vital to patient care

  • Published
  • By Mary H. Allen
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center's Diagnostic Imaging, also known as Radiology, offers a full range of services.  One of these is Routine Radiology (X-rays).

"This is a large base with a lot of active-duty, dependents, civilians, retirees and veterans in the area, so we try to accommodate as many patients as possible in a given day as well as provide 24-hour emergency services," said Staff Sgt. Randolff Rocas, Non-Commission Officer in Charge of Routine Radiology.

The routine radiology clinic has two fluoroscopy rooms and four routine X-ray rooms. Two of these X-ray rooms are currently being upgraded to a direct capture capability.
 
Direct capture capability allows for images to be sent directly to the computer within seconds, making it faster for the radiologist to read and diagnose the study, said Rocas. 

Additionally, the clinic has portable X-ray equipment for patients who are unable to come to radiology or for patients who need immediate response due to medical emergencies.

"The routine Radiology department is the biggest in Radiology; we do more than 100 exams per day," said Rocas.

Routine radiographs such as chests, spines, abdomens, upper and lower extremities are mostly performed the same day, and the more advanced procedures are normally scheduled for a later date, unless viewed as an emergency, Rocas explained.

Other services in Diagnostic Imaging include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine studies, computed tomography (CT) scans, mammography, ultrasound, interventional radiology (IR), to fluoroscopy.

The advanced imaging systems of MRI, IR and mammography are often used for more complex cases and for their specialized capabilities, said Rocas. 

He said examples of the higher complexity include ultrasounds, which allow the doctor to ensure a fetus is developing properly; a CT scan to identify internal bleeding; and nuclear medicine studies, which can isolate the location of a tumor, a necessity for proper treatment planning. 

Rocas added that new technology even allows for 3D re-creations of a patient's heart. 

For more information concerning the Radiology department, visit the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/units/wpmc/index.asp or
call 937-257-8760.