Using comprehensive tools for breast screening

OWEN SOUND, Ont. – Grey Bruce Health Services’ regional hospital, in Owen Sound, is using Carestream’s Vue PACS and Vue Mammo workstations as part of its breast imaging program that includes Carestream’s digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) module, full-field digital mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, stereotactic biopsies and screening mammograms.

As one of the leaders in the Ontario Breast Screening Program, the Owen Sound hospital conducts more than 8,000 screening exams and up to 5,000 diagnostic breast exams annually. It was the first hospital in Ontario to become a satellite of the Ontario Breast Screening program in the Southwest Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

“DBT is becoming the preferred technology for diagnostic exams of patients who are called back due to areas of concern in a screening exam. This technology provides enhanced visualization of breast nodules and lesions, which helps our radiologists make a more confident diagnosis,” said Dr. Scott Thomson, Chief Mammographic Radiologist, Grey Bruce Health Services. “Carestream’s fully featured DBT module is easy to use and offers reading times of one minute to one and a half minutes for a single breast exam.”

Due to high breast imaging volumes, one of the nine radiologists at Grey Bruce Medical Center is dedicated to reading mammography exams. Reports are usually available to referring physicians from Carestream’s PACS within hours. In most cases, biopsy results are also reported the same day as the exam.

“As a leader in breast screening and breast cancer care in Ontario, we have created an efficient workflow to ensure that physicians and patients have access to the results of diagnostic procedures as quickly as possible,” said Anne Robertson, the hospital’s Director of Diagnostic Imaging.

“If a radiologist detects a suspicious area, they notify our staff and we immediately schedule an appointment for a specialty consultation. We make the process as smooth and convenient as we can for our patients.”

Carestream’s Vue PACS supports reading of diagnostic and mammography exams from any workstation. Radiologists at Grey Bruce Medical Center use a Vue Mammo workstation with a 5 megapixel monitor for FFDM, MRI and DBT breast exams.

The Web-based CARESTREAM Vue Mammo Workstation supports a single, fully featured desktop that enables streamlined reading of all breast imaging procedures as well as delivering advanced 3D breast tomosynthesis tools. The DBT module can display exams side-by-side with other types of mammography procedures, and allows viewing of DBT exams in cine mode or by scrolling through images.

Comparison tools enable radiologists to use personalized hanging protocols for DBT exams along with other procedures.

About Grey Bruce Health Services

Grey Bruce Health Services has six hospitals in Grey and Bruce Counties. Our efforts are focused on providing quality healthcare close to home. Our hospital in Owen Sound provides regional specialty services and acts as a hub for referrals from our smaller hospitals. Our hospitals in Lion’s Head, Markdale, Meaford, Southampton and Wiarton offer a wide range of primary and ambulatory care services to their communities and to our many seasonal visitors. For more information visit http://www.gbhs.on.ca/

About Carestream Health

Carestream is a worldwide provider of dental and medical imaging systems and IT solutions; X-ray imaging systems for non-destructive testing; and advanced materials for the precision films and electronics markets – all backed by a global service and support network. For more information about the company’s broad portfolio of products, solutions and services, please contact your Carestream representative or call 888-777-2072, or visit www.carestream.com.