It is a very exciting time at Radiology Affiliates Imaging. New faces, more advanced equipment, and a constantly improving patient experience keep everything humming along at an impressive clip at both RAI locations, in Hamilton and Lawrenceville.
Let’s start with new people. Dr. Lynne Taus, a 31-year veteran of radiology, has taken over as the medical director at RAI Lawrence Township, now that Dr. Eric Bosworth is serving as the chief of radiology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in Hamilton. Dr. Taus, a graduate of Loyola University Medical School, specializes in MRI, CT and thyroid biopsy.
“I am very excited to take over as medical director at Lawrenceville,” she said. “Dr. Eric Bosworth worked long and hard to take it to the successful center it is. Now we are adding more quality imaging to assist the patients and their physicians in the best patient care.”
Technology in radiology has changed remarkably in the just the last few years. “Three-D mammography has really changed mammography for us,” Dr. Taus said. “Better information, fewer call backs, and better workups.”
The technical name for 3-D mammography is tomosynthesis, and it’s changing everything about the mammography game, said Ruth Hawthorne, RAI’s director of digital strategy. It can see through layers and layers of breast tissue and give far sharper images than standard mammograms.
Tomosynthesis also gives radiologists 10 times the number of images to look at – over 300 pictures, as opposed to 4. “It will be the new normal,” Hawthorne said.
And by the way — RAI’s 3-D unit in Lawrenceville is the only one in Mercer County. Though not for long. RAI Hamilton is putting one in as we speak. How effective is tomosynthesis? “We found 17 percent more significant issues in the first six months we used it,” Hawthorne said.
This is only part of the push toward ever-better technology at RAI. And it all goes hand-in-hand with improving the patient experience. Let’s face it, not many people think comforting things when they think of getting an MRI. A lot of people are claustrophobic and resist getting MRIs because they simply won’t get into the tunnel.
But RAI wants to change that perception, and the doctors and staff at both locations are doing an excellent job. “We have added open MRI for patients unable to use a traditional MRI,” said Dr. Taus. “Claustrophobic patients will find it especially friendly.”
RAI also is replacing its 1.5T high-field strength magnet with a new wide-bore model that will add diagnostic quality and additional types of MR imaging, including breast imaging.
Also on the way, said Technical Supervisor Amy Rosiejka, is a 1.5 T High Field extremity MRI unit that will be able to scan extremities (hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet). Patients can relax in a dental style chair while being scanned, and children can sit in their parents’ laps during the entire process.
The patient experience is not just a buzz phrase for the folks at MRI. Everything they are doing to improve the accuracy and reliability of tests is done with the twin goals of better care (which also comes with shorter times between getting a test and learning the results) and a more comfortable experience, including lower stress.
That also includes the bill. RAI, in an effort to help patients navigate the new Affordable Care Act rules, has introduced several new payment options, including cash pricing, to make thing easier.
So all around, RAI has you covered, inside and out. “And we continue to grow,” Hawthorne said.
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