Cooper University Health Care in Camden said it will begin offering a portable CT scanner for medically fragile and critically ill patients.
Health officials at the South Jersey-based health care network said the new device, called the Siemens SOMATOM On.site, stands to mostly benefit bed-bound patients and those with suspected brain bleeds, allowing them to undergo the test “without having to leave the bedside or be moved.”
And, it could be helpful for intensive care patients, who are often-connected to an array of life-supporting devices, reads a Jan. 19 announcement from the health care system.
Members of Cooper University Health Care’s Radiology Department leadership and clinical teams with the new Siemens SOMATOM On.site portable CT scanner: Michael Connelly, director of Radiology; Elliot Vazquez, administrative director; Timothy Matthews, CT technologist; Jason Orr, CT Technologist; Ross Paparone, CT technologist; Bridget Downey, CT Supervisor; Dr. Todd Siegal, department chief and chairman of radiology; and Dawn Vitarelli, manager, Cross Sectional Imaging. – COOPER UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE
According to Cooper, it is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer the Siemens SOMATOM On.site.
Whereas staff could spend at least 20 minutes to prepare a patient for transport, Cooper said it expects the amount of time for the CT scanner to be halved. It will minimize risky patient transports, Cooper added, and reduce staffing strains.
“By eliminating the need for transport we not only potentially can make a quicker diagnosis, but there is also corresponding reduction in patient scans on our fixed CT units, allowing for more patient scans overall,” reads a prepared statement from Todd Siegal, the chief and chair of Cooper’s radiology department.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:21 a.m. EST on Jan. 21, 2022, to include the full name of the portable CT scanner: Siemens SOMATOM On.site.
