Imaging Technologies
Imaging Technology moves us further beyond basing medical decisions on symptoms alone, allowing physicians to make the most accurate diagnosis, catching concerns early and giving patients the best prognosis for healthy lives. Imaging technologies complement and enhance Sutter North Medical Foundation’s health care services.
Illustrating this, imaging technologies enables us to:
- Detect breast cancer in your sister in its earliest stages—increasing her chances for a five-year survival rate by 96%
- Show a picture of your baby inside the womb as early as the first weeks of the first trimester
- Examine your six-year old’s broken bone, giving you a sigh of relief when all he needs is a cast
- Inform your father of the condition of his heart…maybe just showing him will help him see the importance of diet and exercise
Services | New Technology | Bone Density | Radiologists | Staff | Recognizing & Honoring Our Donors | Physician Referrals | The Future | Location and Contact Information
Services
Flouro Exams are when you are injected with flouro in a specific area of the body, enabling the radiologist to then evaluate such things as arteries, upper gastrointestinal tract i.e. stomach, and sinus tracts. This exam is especially helpful in tracking where a potential
blockage is occurring.
Ultrasound Exams uses radio waves to provide an image of inside your body. These images allow radiologists to examine organs in your abdomen such as the pancreas, aorta, liver, and kidneys as well as potential masses located
throughout the body.
Ultrasound exams are also used to see images of a baby. Sutter North Medical Foundation recently added two new ultrasound systems, which among other things, allows mothers to see improved images of their baby. These image advancements
provide image quality and increased diagnostic information from ultrasound exams.
With the new ultrasound equipment, all patients can watch their ultrasound on a television mounted on the wall.
Mammography Exams are recommended annually for all women over the age of forty, and earlier for women with a family history of breast cancer. Now, mammography coupled with Computer-Aided Digital (CAD) technology—radiologists
improve early diagnosis of breast cancer by 20%. This new technology requires no additional procedures for patients and provides enhanced images. Review the “Recognizing and Honoring our Donors” link to learn more about how this new technology was brought to the Yuba-Sutter Community.
Nuclear Medicine Exams include CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). CT scans are useful when… (something hurts) and can provide
images of your brain, cranial/facial, sinus, chest, spine, abdomen, orthopedic,
vascular, and cardiac regions. CT scans provide a sort of “map” of your body—radiologists use it to determine that organs are the proper size and shape.
MRI scans use a strong magnet and radio waves to create images of your organs—at any angle. This allows a radiologist to pinpoint specific ailments and
is most appropriate when… The machine does make a knocking sound as it scans but patients now can enjoy music during the process. This makes the 30 to 60 minute exam go by a lot quicker and patients may listen to whatever kind of music they like. The imaging department has many music selections including: country western, jazz, classical, big band, and even rap.
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New Technology
Computer-Aided Digital Technology
New Radiology Monitors
Dexa Scanner
New Ultrasound Equipment
MRI Sound System
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Bone Density
The Bone Density screening equipment moves between Sutter North Medical Foundation’s care centers including: Yuba City Diagnostic & Outpatient Center, Marysville Third Street Clinic, Loma Rica Family Practice, Brownsville Family Practice, and Wheatland Family Practice. This is a free service for Sutter North patients. Women forty-five years or older and men fifty years and older should have their bone density screening annually for early detection of osteoporosis.
The URL below links to a calendar which outlines dates and locations for Bone Density screening.
2004 Bone Density Schedule
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Radiologists
Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in imaging technology. They study diagnostic and imaging services for multiple years in addition to general medical doctorate training.
Sutter North’s Radiologists are:
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Staff
Sutter North Medical Foundation’s staff is highly credentialed in imaging technology. Specialties vary from diagnostic cardiac sonography in pediatrics to mammogram technicians.
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Recognizing & Honoring Our Donors
New technology would not be possible without the support of the Yuba-Sutter community, staff, and physicians. Swing Into Health netted $72,000 for the purchase of Computer-Aided Digital Technology and Charles Clement, M.D. celebrated 50 years of practicing medicine by launching the philanthropic campaign for this technology. Within one-year, through the vast support of donors—CAD was purchased!
A MRI Sound System was purchased in 2002 to comfort those who need an MRI scan. Although a non-invasive procedure, the knocking noise and close parameters are improved with the sound of music of one’s choice. Patients can bring their own music or choose from Sutter North Medical Foundation’s selection including jazz, classical, big band, disco, country western, and rap.
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Physician Referrals
Physicians wishing to refer their patients to Sutter North Medical Foundation’s Diagnostic and Imaging Department should call (530)749-3301.
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The Future
What are our future goals of bringing new technology to the Yuba-Sutter community? Sutter North Medical Foundation is continuously updating our goals to bring new services to our community. Call the Community Relations and Philanthropic Department at (530)749-3664 to find out how you can make a donation to help.
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Location and Contact Information
Sutter North Medical Foundation’s Department of Imaging is located at:
Diagnostic & Outpatient Center
440 Plumas Boulevard
Yuba City, CA 95991
(located in the Town Center)
Call (530)749-3301 to reach the Imaging Department directly.
Diagnostic & Outpatient Center
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