Our Services at South Bend

Diagnostic Services

SJRMC—South Bend is a full service diagnostic radiology department. We have the most up to date CR and PACS archiving system in place.

All of our images are digitally acquired and graphically stored for future reference and quick access. These images are available to physicians and associate facilities nationwide via the Internet. Our technologists have access to two diagnostically equipped trauma suites in the emergency room featuring permanent overhead x-ray tubes and a stationary chest stand.

This department is currently involved with the GI Lab in performing the new Enteryx injection for gastric reflux. We are involved with the pain management clinic by supplying a C-arm for the spinal blocks for pain management. The technologists are also responsible in assisting radiologists with invasive procedures such as: MRI gadolinium joint injections, lumbar punctures and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Our full-service ultrasound department can cover obstetric, thyroid, breast, vascular veins and abdominal scanning. Computerized tomography available with new 16-slice scanner plus an additional CT scanner is located in the Emergency Department.

Scans are available for a multitude of symptoms including: trauma scans, ct colonography, and CTA’s for the carotids, aorta and legs. A complete list of services follows:

  • Nuclear medicine
    • Cardiac perfusion exams.
    • Bone scans: aids in diagnosing arthritis, infection, or metastatic cancer of the bone.
    • Thyroid scans.
    • Hepatobiliary (HIDA) scans.
    • Lung scans (VQ scan)—can determine if multiple blood clots exist in the lung.
    • Indium white blood cell scans.
    • MUGA scan.
    • Renal scan.
    • Parathyroid scan.
    • Lymphoscintigraphy.
    • Cisternogram.
    • Gastric emptying study.
    • GI bleeding study.
    • Meckels diverticulum study.
    • Octreoscan and PET scans (can be very useful in determining location, extent, metastases, and how metabolically active many types of cancer are in the body).
  • Nuclear technology available
    • At SJRMC we currently have two ADAC Vertex dual-head gamma cameras that are capable of doing whole body and SPECT imaging.
    • We also utilize a single-head Siemens Orbiter that is very useful for upright imaging, and imaging critically ill patients.
    • The nuclear medicine department has a completely independent hot-lab for preparing the delivered unit doses of radioactivity. The hot lab utilizes a new Capintec dose calibrator and well counter.
    • For thyroid imaging, the nuclear medicine department uses a Picker thyroidine thyroid probe.
    • The nuclear medicine department has two separate GM tubes for area surveys, and utilizes a wall mounted technical associates contamination monitor throughout the day for personnel hand monitoring.
    • PACS system allows viewing throughout the hospital.
    • Interventional radiology procedures.
    • Arteriograms to check carotid, renal and peripheral arteries.
    • Venous catheters for hemodialysis.
    • Dialysis access surveillance to maintain patency (fistulagrams and declots).
    • Central line placement for vascular access and intravenous medications.
    • Abscess tube placement.
    • Percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement for hydronephrosis and nephrolithiasis.
    • Paracentesis for ascites (fluid removal in abdomen).
    • Thoracentesis for pleural effusion (fluid removal in chest cavity).
    • Bone, lung and liver biopsies to diagnose disease.
    • Uterine embolizations for uterine fibroids.
    • Gastrostomy tube placements for feeding.
    • Vertebroplasty for treatment of spine fractures (osteoporosis).
    • Embolization for arterial bleeding.
    • Chemo embolization.
    • IVC filter placement for pulmonary emboli (prevents clots from leg from reaching lung).
    • Non-invasive flow study.
    • Radio frequency ablation.
  • Procedures at The Center for Women’s Health—South Bend
    • Stereotactic biopsy—this is a breast biopsy done under local anesthesia with mammography guidance.
    • Screening and diagnostic mammograms with computer aided detection (R2).
    • Preoperative needle localizations.
    • Ultrasound guided breast biopsy—also under local but using ultrasound guidance.
    • Ultrasound guided cyst aspirations.
    • Ductograms—a small cannula is inserted into a duct of a nipple having discharge (prior surgical consult required).
    • Bone density scans.
    • Nurses are available for assistance in scheduling invasive procedures and for consultation.

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