Photo: Photo: The radiology technologists at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital place a piece of equipment on the new, state-of-the-art bone density scanner as part of its daily calibration. Jenni King, Pat Koster, Kendra Davis, and Taylor Bruening received training on the new scanner.
Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) in Lake City has owned a low dose radiation bone density scanner (DEXA) since 2004, but recently took receipt of and began training on a new, state-of-the-art Hologic scanner as their previous model reached end of life. The new scanner renders improved image detail and software upgrades offer increased options. Additionally, the time it takes for a scan is markedly shorter. For example, each body part can be scanned in just 30 to 60 seconds. Director of Radiology, Jenni King, says the DEXA scanner is most often used to quantify bone density in patients over the age of 60. The information from scans is used by medical providers to further examine medications and the genetics of patients to determine the risk for breaking bones as the result of a fall. “People tend to think that bones are unchanging, but that is not the case as our bones are constantly changing,” King explains. “Right now, your body has specialized cells destroying old bits of bone and replacing them with new bone. Sadly, as we age, we lose bone more rapidly than we can replace it, so our bones become weak and brittle. Left unchecked, this bone loss can lead to osteoporosis.” Patients become more prone to fractures and spinal and hip fractures can lead to chronic pain, deformity, depression, disability and even death. Most people have no outward symptoms of osteoporosis until they suffer an expected bone breakage. The new scanner arrived during the $31 million renovation at Stewart Memorial and a new home was needed for the large piece of equipment. They were able to convert an x-ray room to accommodate the new DEXA scanner.
