Center for Imaging & Medical Arts at WCA

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New Center For Imaging & Medical Arts At WCA Moves To Completion

The use of medical imaging in patient care is growing and changing at an unquestionably rapid speed. The new Center For Imaging & Medical Arts at WCA - located behind the hospital and slated for a grand opening in 2008 - will keep pace with this growing and changing trend by combining sophisticated medical imaging with convenience and patient comfort in an outpatient environment.

"We have an unwavering commitment to provide the highest level of quality care to those we serve," said Betsy T. Wright, WCA President/CEO. “To achieve this vision, we continually look beyond what is expected and strive to find new and innovative ways to meet the changing health needs of our communities. The new Center demonstrates our pledge by furnishing outstanding hospital services set in convenient, contemporary outpatient surroundings with improved access to patient care.”

“Medical imaging services have to move into the outpatient environment to be successful,” said Lyndon Gritters, M.D., Radiology Department Chairman, and the Center’s project physician liaison. “Imaging centers around the country have been successfully making this transition for several years now. Our plan is to move most of our outpatient imaging services, particularly for women's imaging, out of the hospital, as well as revamp our registration and check-in process. The ease with which patients will be able to get in and get their studies done will be greatly enhanced without having to come through the hospital.”

Patient Focused Design

Patients will enter the building on the first level into an all new 11,000 square-foot spacious center. Beautiful colors will accent the wall space and indirect lighting will articulate the waiting areas outside the mammography and ultrasound suites, creating a soothing, private, patient-friendly atmosphere. After registering, patients will be directed to one of several imaging areas at the Center. Free parking and quick appointment availability, along with easy scheduling for patients and the referring office staff, adds to the service excellence offered at the new Center. Plans are also underway to construct a connector at the first level of the hospital leading to the Center for quick access from the hospital to the complex.

“The advantages of the Center include a centralized design that contributes to operational efficiency,” said Dr. Gritters. “The new facility is specifically designed to optimize patient accessibility and usability while providing physicians and staff an environment to better coordinate patient care.”

New Lab To Better Serve You
As part of the first phase of construction at the new Center, an outpatient lab opened September 24th. “We listened to our community and responded with improved access to lab services,” said Jon Sundholm, M.T., (ASCP), WCA Clinical Laboratory Manager. “The lab lends itself to great patient flow and efficiency and has decreased the time patients have to wait to have their blood drawn.” The lab is now open six days a week, Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Medical Imaging Excellence

The second phase of construction is well underway and will encompass women's imaging and ultrasound services. Conveniently located on the first floor, the Center will offer many of the most common outpatient tests including: 1.5 Tesla MRI scanning, high resolution body ultrasound, vascular ultrasound, and PET/CT imaging. Women's imaging services will include mammography with computer-aided detection (CAD), breast ultrasound, stereotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, and bone densitometry (DEXA) scanning.

According to Gritters one of the center's integral focuses is women's care. “The expectations of our patients in women's imaging are different than with other medical imaging. Mammography and breast biopsy patients expect even more personalized care. We are working very hard to meet those expectations.”

The Center will also be home to the hospital's interventional radiology offices. The medical offices of Jamestown Primary Care and George Conner, M.D. will remain on the second floor of the Center. A series of open houses unveiling the new Center are slated for 2008. For more information on the new Center, contact the WCA Public Relations Department at 664-8614.

Click to download a map of the Center for Imaging and Medical Arts