From PET/CT scans to mammography, the Nazareth imaging department offers it all

With its convenient SEPTA-accessible location, wide-ranging modalities, easy scheduling and state-of-the-art technology, most notably a brand-new PET/CT scanner, the radiology/imaging department at Nazareth Hospital is meeting the community’s varying diagnostic needs daily.

Located on the first floor of the hospital, the department offers patients a wide variety of imaging services, including fluoroscopy studies, ultrasound, elastography, mammography, DEXA, CT scans of the heart, CT colonography (used to get clarification after an incomplete colonoscopy) and more.

The crown jewel of the department is the PET/CT scanner, which has been on site for about one year and brings fresh offerings to Nazareth’s community.

“It’s for cancer patients who are usually either going through cancer treatment or trying to see what their plan of care would be. They get this testing done to identify if there’s any lesions or nodules throughout the body,” explains Carol Powell, director of imaging services at Nazareth. “It has advanced capabilities and is state-of-the-art, updated to take on up-and-coming studies.”

This machine is especially useful for prostate cancer screenings, as it’s able to detect even the smallest lesions. One patient, says Powell, had one such lesion discovered after getting a scan done. He was able to be proactive and quickly receive radiation and is now doing well.

Prioritizing the patients

Each day, the radiology/imaging department collaborates with other departments throughout the hospital—including cardiology, the ED and OR—to ensure patients receive the best care possible and necessary scans to properly diagnose and treat. Patient experience is a top priority, with the department able to accommodate an appointment within the same week that it’s requested.

“One of our initiatives is to have somebody in within the next three days if they call today,” says Powell. “Most times, we fit somebody in the day of or day after.”

On the day of the appointment, patients enter through the hospital’s main entrance, stop at outpatient registration to check in and head right to the imaging department, located next to the emergency department. They’ll then be greeted by an experienced technician, a group that Powell praises for their commitment to enhancing the patient experience.

“They’re resilient. It’s a great team. They jump in to help each other,” she says. “And we have a diverse group. We have new techs and seasoned techs who have been here for a while. We have that throughout every modality, which is nice.”

Ultimately, the department is establishing itself as a go-to hub for all Northeast Philadelphia community members who require a wide breadth of diagnostic imaging tests. Whether they need a PET scan to determine a plan of action for cancer treatment or a routine X-ray, they can find it all at Nazareth…and they don’t even need a car to get there.

“We found that a majority of our patients don’t have transportation. We’re located right on Route 1, right on Roosevelt Boulevard and they can get buses. So, for the patients who don’t have transportation, it is easy for them,” says Powell. “We’re a community hospital. We’re there to serve the community and provide good service for them. Patients keep coming back because they recognize the faces. They really feel like it’s a family atmosphere here.”

Visit trinityhealthma.org/imaging for more information and to make an appointment.