Donation helps paediatric until diagnose faster

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The Paediatric Radiology Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital is $10,000 closer to paying off a $100,000 state-of-the-art Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) due to a generous donation made by St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology Thursday.Under the direction of Lead Paediatric Imaging Specialist Dr. Gregory Mitton, PACS has been successfully providing digital X-ray imaging of children for the past three years.  The technology allows for an easier definite diagnosis of tumours and growths by producing a malleable digital photograph.   Dr. Mitton is able to review the image and process the brightness and contrast for optimal analysis, cutting the need for additional X-rays and saving the patients from unnecessary radiation.  Furthermore, the digital medium allows for easy storage and archival of images making the transfer of patients more efficient, and the communications between doctors at different locations uncomplicated.

The Radiology suite at the hospital is currently the only one using the system to service children.  “Our volumes of paediatric patients and the need for paediatric imaging has been increasing on a regular basis over the past several years,” explained Dr. Mitton, specifically scouted by the hospital to advance the program and utilize it to improve care.  “It’s a tremendous breakthrough, it’s a tremendous advantage, and we are very happy to have the PACS system in place”.Due to the nature of the images, Dr. Mitton is able to access and interpret the digital X-rays from his mobile device.  “If I’m on call at night, or if I’m driving to Chatham and I have a laptop, I can pull over and look at the images.  It increases the speed and the turnaround...and in some cases speed is very important.”The money donated by St. Clair College - raised during a golf tournament in June - brings the total for the project to $15,000.  The hospital is hoping the community will get behind the cause and help fund the remaining $85,000.