New neuroscience floor complete

Dr. Don Myers, medical director of neuroscience at Community Regional, demonstrates how the imaging technology of the new O-arm CT scanner works.

It was a busy evening Dec. 5 for Community Regional Medical Center, as more than 170 invitees and employees got their first glimpse of a new chapter in medical care at the downtown Fresno hospital.

A steady stream of guests toured the ninth floor to see the new 52-bed neuroscience unit dedicated to neurosurgical and neurological conditions such as brain injury, brain tumor, back problems, stroke and epilepsy. The floor is scheduled to open for patient care Dec. 20.

“Community Regional is the first in the Valley and one of only a few hospitals in the United States to have such state-of-the-art technology –

Guy Lowery, diagnostic technologist, shows people touring the neuroscience unit the three dimensional views this new technology allows.

completely integrated and under one roof,” said Community marketing specialist Nicole McGrath, who organized the neuroscience unit’s open house.

Guests said they were impressed by everything from the large rooms and specialized treatment patients will receive, to the flooring and wall décor that give it a home-like feel.

But the physicians and leading-edge technology are what really make it special. The featured technology includes two StealthStations, the most accepted image-guided surgical navigation in the world; the O-arm, a mobile imaging platform used primarily for spine and neurological surgery; an OPMI Pentero microscope that will automatically focus and deliver a razor-sharp image regardless of magnification; and the world’s first Generation 4 CyberKnife non-invasive surgery system.

This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.

Friday, December 07, 2007