GE CEO Jeff Immelt Joins North Shore University Hospital in Unveiling Revolutionary Imaging Technology
$1.7M, 64-Slice CT Scan Transforming the Diagnosis of Cardiovascular DiseaseJeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and chief executive officer of GE, today joined hospitals officials in unveiling the world's most powerful computed tomography (CT) imaging system from GE Healthcare - the only one of its kind in the Northeast used exclusively to diagnose heart disease.GE's new 64-slice LightSpeed Volume CT (VCT) system, purchased at a cost of $1.7 million, enables doctors to capture three-dimensional images of a beating heart in just five heart beats (about five seconds), half the amount of time required by other competing CT systems being introduced at other New York area hospitals.The system creates 64 credit card-thin images that are combined to form a three-dimensional view of a patient's heart, giving NSUH doctors a powerful new tool for diagnosing heart disease."We're able to produce startlingly vivid images of the heart using 64 x-ray tubes or cameras, two times the capability of the 32-slice CT scans recently introduced at hospitals in Manhattan and Long Island," said Stanley Katz, MD, chief of cardiology at NSUH and vice president of cardiovascular services for the North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. "That's a remarkable distinction that makes North Shore University Hospital's system unique from all other multi-slice CT scans currently on the market."Heart motion has historically made CT cardiovascular scans challenging and prone to blurring. Due to its speed, the LightSpeed VCT enables physicians to make a fast and less-invasive diagnostic evaluation of arterial stenosis.For instance, Stanley Weinstock, 61, a Port Washington resident and president of a Great Neck car dealership, recently avoided a possible heart attack thanks to the hospital's 64-slice CT, which showed he had significant blockage in right coronary artery. Stress tests performed on Mr. Weinstock in each of the past three years did not detect a problem. "The moral of this story is that even if you appear healthy and have no obvious symptoms of a heart problem, having a test like this can save your life. It saved mine and it will save others," he said.NSUH is working with GE to develop research protocols aimed at validating the technology's effectiveness in early diagnosis of heart disease."The LightSpeed VCT is the only true 64-slice technology capable of five-beat cardiac imaging," said Laura King, vice president of interventional, cardiology and surgery for GE Healthcare. "This enables clinicians to scan a broad patient population, including those patients with heart rate fluxuation, who otherwise could not be successfully scanned in more than five heartbeats.""We're breaking barriers in speed and accuracy of patient exams, and are now able to perform new and enhanced diagnostic procedures with greater precision than any other hospital in the New York area," said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, who had no prior history of heart problems, but sustained a near heart attack this spring because two of his arteries had 85-90 percent blockage. "We're excited to be the first hospital to offer this medical innovation to our physicians and patients."A recent study showed that 92 percent of the patient population could have their heart scanned with GE's LightSpeed VCT since it required patients to hold their breath for only five heart beats. In comparison, a mere 10 percent of patients could be scanned with the 10-beat or 32-slice cardiac system.
South Nassau Hospital Offers Parent-Child Education Classes and Support Groups
The following classes will be held in August:Monday, Aug. 1Mommy & Baby Yoga, 12-1:15pmPreparation for Breastfeeding, 7-9pmTuesday, Aug. 2Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmWednesday, Aug. 3Prenatal Yoga, 7:30-9pmThursday, Aug. 4Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmSaturday, Aug. 6Prepared Childbirth Class, 9am-5pmMonday, Aug. 8Mommy & Baby Yoga, 12-1:15pmInfant Massage, 2-4pmSibling Class, 4:30-5:45pm OR 6-7:15pm, South Nassau's Conference Room #4Tuesday, Aug. 9Breastfeeding Support Group, 2:30-4pmPrepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmWednesday, Aug. 10Prenatal Yoga, 7:30-9pmThursday, Aug. 11Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmMaternity Orientation, 7:30-8:30pm, South Nassau's Albert Conf. RoomSaturday, Aug. 13Preparation for Breastfeeding, 10:30am-12:30pmBreastfeeding & Working, 1-3pmMonday, Aug. 15Mommy & Baby Yoga, 12-1:15pmInfant Massage, 2-4pmTuesday, Aug. 16Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmWednesday, Aug. 17Infant-Child CPR, 7-10pmThursday, Aug. 18Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmSaturday, Aug. 20Infant-Child CPR, 10am-1pm & 2-5pmMonday, Aug. 22Infant Massage, 2-4pmBaby Care Class, 7-9pmTuesday, Aug. 23Breastfeeding Support Group, 2:30-4pmPrepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmThursday, Aug. 25Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pmMaternity Orientation, 7:30-8:30pm, South Nassau's Albert Conf. RoomMonday, Aug. 29Refresher Childbirth Class, 7-10pmTuesday, Aug. 30Prepared Childbirth Class, 7-9pm
