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VANCOUVER, Wash. — The days of hanging around the doctor's office waiting for an X-ray to develop are quickly going the way of the dinosaur. Using a new adaptation of CCD imaging technology originally developed for space exploration, a local medical group now captures x-ray images directly into digital format. The new digital x-ray imaging technology, similar to digital photography, provides immediate image review and better image quality along with many advantages of electronic image distribution and storage.
Best of all, it requires 30 - 50% less radiation dose than conventional film based radiographic methods. Radiation dose is always a major consideration and is especially important for pediatric patients.
Now for the first time in the Northwest, this new technology is available at a Portland-area physician practice. The Rebound Orthopedic and Rebound Neurosurgical divisions of Northwest Surgical Specialists (NSS), with offices at Southwest Washington Medical Center (SWMC) and the Rose Quarter, are the first Portland-area physician practices to switch to a completely digital imaging system for both X-ray and MRI imaging. Rebound is one of the top orthopedic and neurosurgical practices in the Northwest, with Rebound specialists working as team physicians for the Portland Trail Blazers, Winter Hawks and Portland State University.
Rebound recently purchased a new direct digital Radiography (ddR) system from Swissray International Inc. (Elmsford, NY) the ddR pioneer and worldwide market leader. Rebound physicians, who order upwards of 100 X-rays a day, say the new technology will save time and money by eliminating waiting periods for physicians and patients. The technology also eliminates the need for the chemicals and darkroom equipment previously used to process film.
"This wonderful new technology has so many benefits for the patients and physicians," said Dr. Jay Miller, Rebound neurosurgeon. "We can quickly transmit the x-ray images on a number of special diagnostic reading monitors throughout the practice. The images themselves can be analyzed by computer, viewed at other clinic settings, and even at the physician's home."
The digital images are stored on a bank of servers at the clinic. Rebound physicians can also print a high resolution image of the digital x-ray on paper and hand it directly to the patient. Special picture archiving technology also allows the practice to display and store MRI images on the same viewing network.
About Rebound
The Rebound Center at SWMC is a unique partnership of physicians, therapists and other medical professionals treating bone, muscle, spine and joint injuries and disorders. The state-of-the-art facility on the ground floor of the Physicians' Pavilion provides "one-stop shopping" for the treatment of the hands, feet, ankles, knees, spine, shoulders and hips. It brings together the best talent in orthopedics, neurosurgery, physical medicine and physical therapy in one, centrally-located facility and provides the highest level of care. Rebound Center is a relationship between SWMC's Rebound Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine practices and the Rebound Orthopedic and Rebound Neurosurgical divisions of Northwest Surgical Specialists (NSS).
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