KRHC to feature digital mammography

The Kossuth Regional Health Center board of trustees voted to begin offering digital mammography at KRHC at its monthly board meeting on December 22. 

One of the more recent advances in radiology services, digital mammography offers improved accuracy, higher quality images and easier accessibility for physicians viewing the results. 

“This is the most significant upgrade we’ve made to KRHC’s mammography technology since 1998.  Our board of trustees put this in motion because they felt it was an important quality issue for our patients,” said Scott Curtis, KRHC Administrator.  “This will allow our imaging staff to do their jobs more effectively and – most importantly – provide the best care we can for our patients.”

Practical advantages of digital mammography include increased patient convenience.  Since there’s no waiting for film to be developed, the digital images are immediately available for evaluation.  This can help limit time waiting in the exam room, as well as repeat visits for patients due to under or over exposures.  Also, the image itself can be altered for enhanced viewing.  The brightness, darkness and contrast can all be adjusted or magnified, helping the radiologist to see the subtle differences between tissues.  For women with dense breast tissue, digital images can provide improved visibility of the breast.

Digital images are easily stored and retrieved.  In fact, the technology is compatible with KRHC’s new picture archiving and communication system (PACHS).  This system enables the digital mammograms to be view electronically, transmitted and stored.  The radiologist reading the mammogram can use digital tools to enhance or magnify the image in order to better examine suspicious areas. 

“We’re please to be able to offer this upgrade and look forward to the benefits it will provide for our patients,” Curtis said.