Agfa HealthCare announces that it has been successfully installing two new DX-G digitizers and seven CR 30-X computed radiography (CR) systems as part of a digital radiography update at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. The digitizers support both standard phosphor plates and needle-based detectors, providing state-of-the-art image quality for the next generation in digital radiography across a broad range of applications.
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of clinical care, which includes general acute and emergency services to approximately 225,000 people across Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire. Specialist regional services such as burns, plastic surgery, cleft lip and palate, genetics and rehabilitation extend to a much wider population of more than three million people. The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital covers most of southern England,
Trust staff also provides outpatient clinics in other locations in Dorset and Hampshire and specialist staff hold outreach clinics in hospitals within the 'Wessex' area.
Suitable for a broad range of applications
The Trust has purchased the DX-G digitizers for use across all departments for its computed radiography requirements. With its small, convenient footprint the DX-G digitizer offers state-of-the-art image quality and a smoother, more productive workflow enabling the Trust to process images much quicker and when needle-based detectors are used, provide the potential for dose reduction, in some cases significantly.(*) The additional capacity also has the potential to increase the volume of patients being treated, because departments are more efficient in the provision of their radiology services.
High-volume table-top CR
The CR-30-X systems offer affordable and efficient digital radiography with high image quality and throughput using the latest intelligent MUSICA image processing. Its small size means that it fits in small spaces and is also suited for mobile applications.
'National Programme for IT' replacement
The equipment replaces units thatwere installed as part of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT). The key decision factors were the high image quality, speed of processing and ease of use.
Miles Woodford, Lead Radiographer Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust comments: "The image quality was the key factor but on top of that the new equipment is smaller, faster and quieter which are important features that all go to improve the services to patients. Ease of use was another important criteria and meant that the new equipment was easily adopted with minimal training for staff. The user-friendly interfaces and speed of installation also helped make the transition to the new equipment a success."
Meeting the Trust's needs
"As a new customer to Agfa HealthCare we are delighted to see our products have quickly added value at Salibury NHS Foundation Trust, with cost effective solutions that meet their needs," says John Flavell, imaging sales manager, Agfa HealthCare UK. "The digital radiography update allows the Trust to meet increasing demands, whilst delivering high-quality imaging with minimum training and ease of adoption by staff. This initiative is part of Agfa HealthCare's Fast Forward DR Upgrad Program, to support and improve hospitals' and medical imaging departments' digital imaging evolution."
* Testing with board certified radiologists has determined that Cesium Bromide (CR) and Cesium Iodine (DR) detectors when used with MUSICA processing can provide dose reductions of between 50 and 60% when compared to traditional Barium Floro Bromide CR systems. Contact Agfa HealthCare for more details.
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About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 2,865 million euro in 2013.
About Agfa HealthCare
Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading global provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions. The company has nearly a century of healthcare experience and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990's. Today Agfa HealthCare designs, develops and delivers state-of-the-art systems for capturing, managing and processing diagnostic images and clinical/administrative information for hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as contrast media solutions to enable effective medical imaging results. The company has sales offices and agents in over 100 markets worldwide. Sales for Agfa HealthCare in 2013 were 1,160 million euro.