Debates surrounding the need for a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory may finally bring a sense of ease with the recent announcement made by the administration of the private-owned Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital (CTMH), that they have recently acquired a CT (Cat) Scanner that can do all the diagnostic testing necessary for patients with cardiac problems.

Ed Hansen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CTMH and Radiologist, Dr Yoran Rado, took Cayman Net News on an exclusive tour of the hospital’s new state-of-the-art soon to be functional Radiology Department.

“What we actually have is a total update of the whole Radiology Department,” said Dr Rado. We will be offering a group of services that has never before been available on Island.”

“The new CT Scanner is a real sophisticated machine - there is nothing we cannot do with it. This is our Cath Lab,” he said.

“The only thing it won’t appease is the treatment or therapy, but all cardiac testing and diagnosis can be done using this equipment.

“It will certainly fill the need for a Cath Lab on Islands as it will now provide us with a way to distinguish if cardiac emergency exists and if a patient has to be flown off the Island or not.

“We will also be able to detect and diagnose if a patient has any kind of cardiac problem. It is quite essential for such problems to be identified by a doctor so that the patient is able to receive therapy before it further develops into a heart attack,” said Dr Rado.

“In cases where the patient may be at risk of suffering an acute heart attack the machine is also vital to determine whether the patient needs to be flown off Island for immediate care.”

Apart from the CT Scanner, CTMH’s administration also recently acquired the Island’s first Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner (MRI) a digital mammography machine and a digital X-ray.

All of these, according to Mr Hansen, speak to a fully equipped Radiology Department, which will set a great foundation for diagnostic imaging services in the Cayman Islands.

While the hospital CEO recognises the importance and the need for the MRI, he explained that it is not just the acquisition of this machine that is significant, but rather a combination of a number of world-class, technologically advanced machinery that will contribute greatly to the development of healthcare services in Cayman.

This breakthrough, according to hospital administration, reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing quality services to meet the demands of its patients.

For a number of years there has been much talk about the need for a MRI machine and a Cath Lab on Island.

CTMH’s new Radiology Department will boast both equipment, along with a highly qualified Radiologist, to manage the machinery.

Dr Rado completed his medical training at the University of Hamburg graduating in 1999 and completed his Residency in Radiology at the University of Duesseldorf, Germany. He is a Board Certified Radiologist in Germany, and registered with the General Medical Council, UK.

He has a keen interest and experience in mammography, CT, MRI and interventional angiography.

“What this provides is a group of services that has never been available on Island before,” said Mr Hansen.

CTMH’s radiology technology is now completely digital so that images can be sent electronically to Germany where a team of specialist Radiologists will be able to give a second or, sometimes even first, opinion instantly.

Additionally, one of five Radiologists who make up the team back in Germany will be available on request if Dr Rado should have to leave at anytime. There will therefore be a Radiologist available at the CTMH at all times.

Although the purchase of the MRI has been finalised and the machine is already on Island, preparation is still underway at the hospital to house the equipment. This included refurbishing the area set aside for the machine. The MRI costs approximately half a million dollars and will be fully operational in a few months.

Mr Hansen also emphasised that the cost to patients will be significantly cheaper than what they are at present.

“Most patients who required such services were normally flown off Island and in most cases insurance did not cover their procedures. With this service being provided right here in Cayman, the cost of travel and other expenses will be significantly minimised,” he said.

“Additionally, we will be working with the insurance companies to ensure that the services will be competitively priced.”

MRI scanning has many uses in aiding the diagnosis of illnesses such as, brain tumors, spinal infections and Multiple Sclerosis. The use of strong magnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation, as opposed to the ionizing radiation used in X-rays, makes MRI scanning harmless to patients.

athaliah@caymannetnews.com