Upgrade means better images, faster exams

Andalusia Health confirmed this week long-discussed plans to install new scanning technology at the hospital.

John Yanes, Andalusia Health CEO, said the hospital will install a new scanner, the SIGNA™ Explorer from GE Healthcare.

The new technology combines the advancements in MRI with the sophisticated engineering of a 1.5T system. Yanes said the scanner is designed in a way that doesn’t require a patient’s entire body in the scanner at once, which helps patients with claustrophobia. It also is designed to minimize scan times, which enhances patient comfort.

“This is another example of Andalusia Health’s commitment to providing our patients with the latest in diagnostic imaging technology right here in Covington County,” Yanes said.

The decreased scan time means the patient is in the unit for a shorter period of time, and that the hospital can accommodate more patients per day.

The total project cost is estimated at $1.2 million and is expected to start in December 2018 and be completed during the first quarter of 2019.

A member hospital of LifePoint Health, Andalusia Health is an 88-bed, acute care hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.