Newsroom

On Tuesday, October 6, New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) President and CEO Mark J. Mundy, Chairman of Radiology Steven Garner, M.D., and other senior New York Methodist administration officials and medical staff members officially cut the ribbon on New York Methodist Hospital's new Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center. One of the most technologically advanced imaging centers in New York City, the Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center contains a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a 128-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner and a 4D Ultrasound machine. The Center can produce the highest quality images and immediately incorporate the results into a patient's electronic medical record.

Left to right, Steven Garner, M.D., chairman of radiology, Lauren Yedvab, senior vice president, Prasad Gudavalli, M.D., president of the NYM Medical Board, and Anthony Mungo, BS RT, administrative director of radiology, at the opening ceremony.

"This is a proud day for us," said Mark J. Mundy, president and CEO of New York Methodist, at the event. "The Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center brings advanced new radiologic imaging devices to the Hospital and houses those devices in one convenient area designed to provide the best experience for NYM's patients. But the Hospital's radiology experts do not consider impressive technical specifications to be the only litmus test for the quality of patient care—the speed, safety and comfort of a patient's experience at NYM are just as important. The Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center also shines in this respect."

In addition to its technology, the design of the Center incorporates patient-friendly décor, wide and brightly lit hallways, and private changing rooms with personal televisions. The Center also boasts quick turn-around time due to its filmless electronic imaging system, and streamlined communication with referring physicians.

"Every aspect of the Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center benefits our patients and enhances their experience with us," said Steven Garner, M.D., chairman of radiology at the Hospital. "As an example—a 3 Tesla MRI system allows us to get images of the spine, brain, bones, the circulatory system, and soft tissue with no harmful radiation, and with greater detail than previous technology. From the patient's point of view, the new system is not only faster, but also built with a more open, wider tunnel, so that the experience of undergoing an MRI comes with much greater comfort than was the case with other systems. Patients can even listen to music through their own devices and have a friend or family member in the room with them during the procedure. This is just one example of the new services available in the Outpatient Imaging Center."

Anthony Mungo, BS RT, administrative director of radiology at New York Methodist Hospital, with a patient at the Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center's new 128-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner.

Another advanced system in the Center is its new 128-slice CT scanner, which can be used to provide noninvasive tests such as coronary CT scans and virtual colonoscopies. One of the system's key benefits is its ability to perform a CT scan with dramatically reduced radiation exposure—up to 80 percent less, in certain cases. Though reduced radiation exposure is valuable for all patients, children benefit in particular.

"New York Methodist participates in the Alliance for Radiation in Pediatric Imaging's 'Image Gently' campaign, which means this Hospital is committed to safe and effective imaging care for children," said Anthony Mungo, administrative director of radiology. "This new technology helps us to fulfill that promise, and is one of the many reasons we are proud to offer it at the Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center."

"We perform hundreds of thousands of CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound examinations, x-rays, and other radiologic imaging procedures every year, but the benefits and the quality of the care provided at the Outpatient Radiology Imaging Center cannot be confined to a list of 'tech specs,'" said Lauren Yedvab, senior vice president, who spearheaded the project to develop the new Center. "It's not just about the technology—it's also the way the new area is structured, the patient flow and its spaciousness that makes us so excited about the Center. Every aspect of it demonstrates that, at New York Methodist Hospital, the patient always comes first."

For more information, visit http://www.nym.org/radiology.