An industry leader in healthcare delivery and innovation, OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.) recently added a new CARESTREAM DRX-Evolution Plus System (see video link) to its portfolio of Carestream imaging solutions, which include CARESTREAM DRX-Revolution Mobile X-ray Systems and CARESTREAM DRX-Ascend Systems, along with CARESTREAM DRX-Plus Detectors across the integrated health system’s diverse operations.
“We rely on Carestream for a wide range of solutions that fit all of our different scenarios, all the way from the X-ray rooms in our 629-bed, Level I trauma center to our urgent care centers,” said Lisa A. Stevens, Manager of Diagnostic Radiology, Ultrasound and Informatics at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center.
The DRX-Evolution Plus system equips digital X-ray rooms with modular components for custom configurations. OSF Saint Francis uses three of these for orthopaedic, pediatric, trauma, musculoskeletal, long-length, cross-table and tabletop exams, as well as chest and abdominal X-rays. The newest installation adds supine scoliosis imaging.
The medical center uses six DRX-Revolution systems chiefly for emergency and pediatric care. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit within OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois performs approximately 30 imaging exams every morning, calibrated to the lowest possible X-ray dosage needed to produce a high-quality image. The industry’s first mobile X-ray system with a fully automatic collapsible column, the DRX-Revolution is an X-ray room on wheels delivering fast, high-quality images. When testing a next-generation model on loan, OSF staff noticed the machine’s silent operation—a plus around sensitive infants. They also appreciated that Carestream incorporated their feedback into product development. “Our technologists like working with Carestream,” Stevens said. “They feel listened to.”
Carestream has provided imaging systems to OSF HealthCare for about seven years. OSF Saint Francis Medical Center conducts approximately 400,000 diagnostic imaging exams a year, most on Carestream systems.
OSF Urgo centers—urgent care for people on the go—use DRX-Ascend systems, full digital radiography room solutions that save space and offer positioning flexibility. Fifteen systems are installed, with three more scheduled for deployment at OSF Urgo or OSF ambulatory sites.
The health system uses Carestream’s DRX Plus 3543 and DRX Plus 4343 detectors for general radiology; DRX Plus 3543C and DRX Plus 4343C detectors for pediatrics and other dose-sensitive applications; and small-format DRX Plus 2530C detectors for mobile imaging. They also leverage Carestream’s specialty software for long-length image stitching as well as pneumothorax, tube and line visualization.
OSF HealthCare’s broad use of Carestream solutions supports high-quality patient care by enabling standard configurations that provide consistent and high image quality across the health system, Stevens said. Platform consistency also simplifies adoption of new equipment, with no need to spend weeks adjusting images.
Carestream supports OSF HealthCare with expert guidance, deep understanding of the health system’s needs and prompt service, Stevens added. “Working with Carestream is a clean, smooth process for us that cost-efficiently supports our quality of care and our technology roadmap.”
