Hologic - Clarity of Vision

Working Through the Growing Pains

The transition from analog to digital mammography for Newton-Wellesley Hospital was a gradual journey. Deborah Lockhart said, “We knew that the Hologic Selenia system was the answer, the image quality is superb and the unit itself is user friendly. How this transition would impact our department and how we were to work through this transition was the question. The goal was to make this transition from the analog to digital environment as smooth as possible.

“The Hologic team has been extremely helpful and supportive through this transition. I could not have asked for a better company to work with – they are a great team: willing to help and listen to ideas and suggestions.”

With the implementation of any new technology, a certain amount of growing pains are expected, and the first Selenia system installed in the Center was no exception.What made all the difference is that Hologic understood this and worked closely with the doctors, administrators and technologists at the Center to improve the new technology, and integrate their suggestions into subsequent updates.

One improvement was the need for better communication between the radiologist and the imaging technologist at the acquisition station. “We worked closely with Hologic to validate the concept of a technologist workstation and demonstrate the improvement in workflow,” Dr. Semine said.

The Hologic technologist workstations allowed the Selenia technology to imitate, in a way, the analog environment. “We can now circle areas in the breast on the digital solutions applied | a case study As Appearing In | Imaging Technology News | September 2007 | www.ITNonline.net image that we would like the technologist to provide additional views of,” Dr. Semine said, “and push it right back to the technologist’s work station. This has improved the efficiency of the digital environment.”

Patient Care

According to Cheryl Cain, Breast Imaging Facilitator at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, the Selenia technology would not be as impressive if it did not improve the delivery of care to the patients. “We want to be hi-tech and on the cutting edge of technology, the Selenia has enabled us to do that,” Cain said. “But it’s all for patient care. Doing the best for the patient is the bottom line.”

“You have the ability to review the image almost immediately and assess it for positioning, motion and overall exposure,” Cain said.

With digital mammography, the technologists have the ability to see right away if the image taken is satisfactory or not. “You have the ability to review the image almost immediately and assess it for positioning, motion and overall exposure,” Cain said. She also points out that because the technologist never needs to leave the patient alone in order to process films, she has found that the patients feel more at ease. Reducing their anxiety makes the entire experience of having a mammogram better for the patient and the technologist.

Digital detectors have a much wider dynamic range and are more tolerant of exposure variations reducing the number of retakes compared to screen-film. “The patient can be more confident that the images will be satisfactory, and not need to be repeated because of exposure factors,” Dr. Semine noted.