Eastern Plumas Health Care has recently purchased a new ultrasound machine\u2014the GE Logic S8–which is several hundred pounds lighter and easier to move than the older unit it replaced. For Darlene Aikey, Ultrasound Technologist, the differences are much more profound. Replacing a ten year old machine means \u201clight years in advancement.\u201d
\n\tImage quality on the new machine is much better thanks to \u201cimage harmonics,\u201d which \u201cputs together a set of ultrasound information and uses it to create a crisper image.\u201d In layperson\u2019s terms, it allows Aikey to see more in the image. It also allows for the same clear imaging no matter what body type a person has\u2014heavy, light, young, old, big or small.
\n\tNow, images are crisper and more defined, so that tiny abnormalities, such as a cyst, or a lesion on the liver or kidneys, or on a woman\u2019s uterus can be seen. Aikey then measures the abnormality and the radiologist at Northstar Imaging in Reno gives the diagnosis. The new machine\u2019s \u201csensitivity\u201d makes Aikey more confident in her imaging technique which, in turn, allows the radiologist to be all the more confident in making his diagnosis.
\n\tAikey stressed that there is a place for both ultrasound and CAT scans and that sometimes after a patient has a CAT scan, an ultrasound will be ordered to futher classify an abnormality and vice versa. Still, the quality of the new ultrasound means that there are times the second test is now unnessary.
\n\tAccording to Aikey, ultrasound is the area of radiology that is dependent on the technologist for a quality image, and she appreciates that challenge. Though the new machine has an \u201cauto optimize\u201d feature that automatically adjusts for light\/darkness, depth, and more, she ultimately makes the decision whether she\u2019ll go with that image or override it manually.
\nAikey said that her background in photography serves her well in her career as an ultrasonographer. \u201cUltrasound,\u201d she explained, \u201cis operator dependent.\u201d She makes the decision as to whether an image is the right quality, and she doesn\u2019t stop until she gets the best image possible. Aikey takes pride in her work, and delivers top quality images.
\n\u201cAlthough I\u2019m very happy to have it [the new machine], I\u2019m ultimately responsible for getting the best pictures. I\u2019m in control and fully responsible for the images. I love it so much, and I chose this field because I love photography. I equate [doing ultrasounds] to photography. You can be artistic\u2014there\u2019s an art to ultrasound. You\u2019re diagnosing, but it\u2019s an art.\u201d
\nAikey pointed out that quality imaging is obviously good for the patient, but the fact that EPHC was willing to purchase the new, high quality equipment \u201cguarantees me wanting to stay here. It\u2019s a big deal for us.\u201d
\nAikey went on to \u201csay thank you to the Auxiliary and Foundation [they donated the funds for the new ultrasound equipment]. Without their help, the hospital couldn\u2019t have had this machine\u2014and it was really needed. They need to know how appreciated they are.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eastern Plumas Health Care has recently purchased a new ultrasound machine\u2014the GE Logic S8–which is several hundred pounds lighter and easier to move than the older unit it replaced. For Darlene Aikey, Ultrasound Technologist, the differences are much more profound. Replacing a ten year old machine means \u201clight years in advancement.\u201d Image quality on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ephc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}