Headwaters Opens Nuclear Medicine
New tools help diagnose, manage and treat illnesses

Orangeville, ON, September 18, 2009 – Headwaters Health Care Centre has expanded diagnostic services to include Nuclear Medicine. The dual head nuclear medicine camera purchased from Philips costing $900,000, will provide a broad spectrum of medical procedures for every major organ system. There are nearly one hundred different nuclear medicine tests and therapies available to detect and treat disease.

Nuclear medicine examines organ structure and function which differs from conventional radiology exams such as CT, ultrasound and X-ray which focus mainly on anatomy. “Nuclear medicine uses radioactive materials known as tracers to diagnose and treat disease. Generally, the amount of radiation from a nuclear medicine procedure is equivalent to that received during a diagnostic X-ray,” says Scott Edmonstone, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging, Headwaters Health Care Centre.

This new nuclear medicine camera combined with other modern procedures provides a more powerful diagnostic tool for organ diseases and will improve quality of care provided to patients. “With this state-of-the-art system, doctors have the ability to see the internal workings of the body as well as detect and treat disease early," says Edmonstone.

The hospital is also introducing a new medical procedure to support its digital mammography service. Patients requiring a breast biopsy now have the option of a less invasive procedure. “A radiologist performs a breast biopsy using a hollow needle to remove some cells from a suspicious area in the breast and examines them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis,” says Edmonstone. “It is an option for patients who don’t wish to have a surgical biopsy”.

The hospital also recently purchase a C-Arm, that produces a 'live' x-ray displayed on a TV screen in the hospital operating room. The C-Arm provides clear images for surgeons to view while doing their work. The C-Arm offers the capability to download images to the hospital’s image network, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

“When a digital image is captured during a test it is stored in the hospital’s network. Images can be viewed in different departments simultaneously and easily shared, on a secure network, to allow consultation between physicians,” says Dr. Jeff McKinnon, Chief of Staff, Headwaters Health Care Centre. “This can result in a more timely review and discussion of patient needs and earlier access to treatment.”

These advanced technologies were purchased with funds raised by the Headwaters Health Care Foundation. Because the government does not provide funding for most hospital equipment purchases, the Foundation relies on the generosity of people in our community to donate the one million dollars or more needed every year to purchase new and upgraded medical equipment for Headwaters.

“When our physicians, nurses and other health care professionals have the medical tools patients can receive a full range of health care services right here at home,” says Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre.

Headwaters’ Diagnostic Imaging Department is located on the main level of the hospital. Imaging services are provided on an inpatient, outpatient and emergency basis. For more information regarding the services available in our Diagnostic Imaging department, please call 519-941-2702 ext. 2211 or visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

To make a donation to the Diagnostic Imaging Department, please contact Headwaters Health Care Foundation at 519.941.2702, ext. 2303 or make a gift online at www.headwatershealth.ca.

The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions about hospital services. Please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre at 519-941-2702 ext. 2200.

About Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

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