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Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2005 | ||
A more complete pictureHigh-tech procedure helps patients and physiciansIn recent years, technology has provided physicians and patients with remarkable advances that have prolonged and improved the quality of life for many. Among the most helpful of technologies are devices used in imaging the body. Over the years, X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI have provided physicians with critical information about the structure of the human body. In more recent years, a new test called Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has emerged as a very unique tool that supplements those other procedures. The difference with PET is its ability to map the way the body is functioning. It does not take a snapshot of how the body looks, like X-ray, but creates an image of the bodys metabolism. Quite often when disease is present, the bodys metabolism is altered well before changes occur to the structure, or anatomy, of the body. Then, when that information is combined with structural images from CT, physicians have one of the most powerful diagnostic tools at their disposal. Trident Molecular Imagings mission is to provide this technology to physicians so they may have a more complete picture of their patients who may have cancer, heart disease, and some neurological disorders. This insight has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy over conventional imaging tests, and improve the effectiveness of treatment. Trident Molecular Imaging provides the most convenient and accurate PET/CT services available. TMIs experienced, professional, compassionate staff are dedicated to expanding patient access to this breakthrough technology. TMI will only utilize the latest, most advanced scanners available. These machines provide immediate, accurate information to physicians to help them determine the most effective treatments and patient management. Physicians services include insurance pre-certification; customized options for ordering tests; dedicated personnel to handle scheduling and insurance claims processing; real-time, interactive personalized results reporting system with the fastest turnaround time in the industry; online test review and results; unique educational opportunities including free online CMEs; ongoing peer-reviewed literature updates; and longitudinal data allowing physicians to check historical study comparisons, research protocols, and demographic trending. TMIs skilled, professional staff provides a compassionate and convenient experience for patients. Our proprietary Patient First program features a Patient Bill of Rights, flexible scheduling options, educational services, transportation, follow-up correspondence, flexible payment options and more. PET scans offer patients and physicians unique, life-saving information about how patients are affected by diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and some neurological disorders like Alzheimers disease. They help physicians determine if disease is present, often before any outward symptoms have started. PET scans create a map of the bodys metabolism, specifically how the body utilize glucose. CT scans provide physicians with a very clear view into how the body looks on the inside. It creates photos of the bodys structure with amazing clarity allowing precise localization of any structural abnormality. The combination of PET and CT into one machine has proven to be a remarkable advance in medicine. In fact, Time magazine awarded the inventors of the PET/CT scanner the distinction of the Medical Science Invention of the Year for 2000. Today, hundreds of PET/CT scanners are installed in the U.S. PET/CT has been proven to help physicians pinpoint small tumors throughout the body and find other abnormalities in the heart, coronary arteries and the brain. Very often combined PET/CT can find these abnormalities sooner than is possible with CT or MRI alone. In addition, PET/CT: Reduces the number of invasive procedures. Avoids unnecessary surgery. Locates previously unknown metastases and other cancers. Eliminates multiple tests. More accurately guides necessary biopses. Helps physicians establish more effective therapies for their patients. Diagnoses disease before structural changes have occurred. Guides radiation therapy planning. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs, recently stated in its coverage policy that PET scanning, when used appropriately, can decrease hospital costs incurred, such as extended length-of-stay costs, unnecessary surgical costs, and the cost of ineffective combinations of multiple imaging techniques. Trident Molecular Imaging is dedicated to improving patient access to PET/CT scanners and is therefore committed to developing multiple imaging centers in various cities. The nearest Trident-owned PET/CT center is Trident PET of Fayette, 1275 Highway 54 West, Suite 102, in Fayetteville. Phone 770-719-3754 or contact infofayette@tridentpet.com for more information. | ||
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