Auburndale, Mass., January 25, 2016 – UltraSPECT Inc., a leading provider of multi-vendor, low-dose image processing technology for nuclear medicine, has marked the 450th software package installation in the USA. The milestone was reached as Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, Ohio, acquired Xpress3.Cardiac™ imaging solution to reduce radiation exposure for patients and staff and meet the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) dose-reduction guidelines.
UltraSPECT's installation at Firelands Regional Medical Center was part of HeartSafe Imaging™ initiative introduced by Ohio-based radiopharmaceutical provider HeartLight Pharmacy Services to help nuclear medicine facilities reduce SPECT radiation exposure and minimize scan time for patient comfort. HeartLight Pharmacy Services offers UltraSPECT products to nuclear medicine imaging facilities as part of its supply agreement.
"Partnering with UltraSPECT allowed us to help our customers deliver a low-dose, safer cardiac imaging solution," said Laura Meyer, Sales and Marketing Manager, HeartLight Pharmacy Services. "Firelands Regional Medical Center is now providing the reduced dose and reduced time cardiac scans, making the imaging service safer for both patients and staff, and that can be seen as a true differentiator in the marketplace."
The Heart Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center offers a broad range of advanced cardiac services, including nuclear cardiology scans. It is also accredited in heart failure, is a certified chest pain center, and is an American Heart Association Mission Lifeline heart attack receiving center.
"UltraSPECT has given us the ability to reduce radiation exposure to both staff and patients, while providing a superior image quality," said Chad Baldosser, Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Firelands Regional Medical Center.
Xpress.Cardiac allows cardiac imaging to be performed at half time or half dose thanks to UltraSPECT's innovative reconstruction algorithms technology, Wide-Beam Reconstruction (WBRTM). The WBRTM image processing software for nuclear cardiac and oncology imaging addresses the clinical need for significant reduction in injection dose and shortened scan times, boosting patient safety, throughput and comfort without sacrificing image quality and diagnostic confidence. At a fraction of the cost of a brand new camera, UltraSPECT also provides one of the most cost-effective solutions to the nuclear medicine market.
"As we reach this important milestone after nearly 10 years since the first UltraSPECT unit was installed, our team reflects on nuclear medicine's vital role in cardiac and oncology diagnostics and how important radiation safety is to the technologist and patient," said Yossi Srour, President and CEO, UltraSPECT. "Our partnership with radiopharmaceutical suppliers such as HeartLight Pharmacy Services is crucial to the successful adoption of low-dose imaging solutions by hospitals and practices that strive to deliver better care to their patients and comply with the ASNC dose-reduction guidelines."
"Once customers implement one of UltraSPECT solutions, they really like the technology," said Meyer. "Some of our customers had their radiation dosimetry badge readings go down, and one site improved by as much as 40%."
UltraSPECT solutions allow nuclear medicine professionals to deliver safer and shorter scans and increase patient comfort with images as good, if not better, than those provided with traditional SPECT acquisition. 450 UltraSPECT nuclear medicine units have been installed in over 300 health systems across the country, including St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital in Wyandotte, Mich., and multiple MaineHealth facilities throughout the state.
For more information about the UltraSPECT technologies and reducing dose in nuclear medicine, visit www.ultraspect.com or call 1-888-WBR-SCAN (1-888-927-7226).
About HeartLight Pharmacy
HeartLight Pharmacy is a full-service nuclear pharmacy supplying unit dose and bulk radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and clinics providing their patients with efficient, convenient, and cost-effective nuclear medicine procedures. It has locations in Lima, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. Eric H. Schaaf, R.Ph. is the founder of HeartLight and a fourth-generation pharmacist whose family has owned and operated a retail pharmacy for over 85 years. For more information, visit http://heartlightpharmacy.com.
About Firelands Regional Medical Center
Firelands Regional Medical Center is a 400-bed facility and the only full-service medical center in Erie County, Ohio. It covers a regional service area with over 300,000 residents and provides many advanced care services to the region, including comprehensive cancer care, full-time interventional cardiac care and open heart surgery, wound care services, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acute inpatient rehabilitation, as well as many advanced surgical procedures. For more information about Firelands, visit www.firelands.com.
