Delta Health Invests in New Surgical Equipment
Delta Health has just purchased new, state of the art video technology in gastrointestinal surgical equipment. The new high definition equipment is for performing upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures. The new equipment will give the physicians better visualization and help improve comfort to patients.
“The Delta Health Surgery Department goals are to improve the efficiency of our endoscopic procedures, enhance our diagnostic capabilities and deliver high quality medical care to our patients. With this state of the art technology we may be able to provide our patients with more accurate diagnoses, shorten their procedure times and improve their overall experience,” explained hospital CEO Jason Cleckler.
Experienced professional board certified surgeons who will be using the new equipment are: Dr. Laura McCrackin; Dr. Patrick Brighton, Dr. Kyle Nickel, Dr. David Cox and Dr. Mary Heyrosa. Dr. Ryan Marlin, board-certified family medicine, also performs endoscopies. Board certified pulmonogists Dr. Marcela Abuid and Dr. Sara Knutson perform the bronchoscopy procedures.
“Thanks to the hospital board of directors and hospital administration for approving and investing in new surgical equipment in order to ensure the highest quality medical care for Delta County patients and their families,” commented Dr. Laura McCrackin, board certified surgeon for more than 20 years.
The new surgical endoscopy equipment offer advances in visualization, operator control and workflow management which help to diagnose, detect and treat gastrointestinal diseases and other conditions. New or enhanced imaging technologies include HDTV for superior clarity to deliver exceptionally clear, high resolution images; next generation narrow band imaging for enhanced observation of mucosal tissue which may be used to target biopsies; and dual focus capabilities that allow physicians to switch depth of field from normal focus to near focus for more detailed observation of tissue and blood vessels, including suspected lesions.
The term “endoscopy” is used for any procedures that uses a camera to look inside the body. An Upper GI endoscope is used to examine the lining of the throat, esophagus, or stomach while the patient is under sedation. The upper GI endoscopy is performed to help find the cause for persistent heartburn, bleeding, pain, problems with swallowing, unexplained weight loss and nausea and vomiting and may help identify anemia, reflux disease, ulcers, cancer, inflammation, celiac disease (gluten sensitivities) or precancerous abnormalities.
Bronchoscopes are performed to examine the patient’s airways for abnormalities such as foreign bodies, bleeding, tumors or inflammation and specimens may be taken from inside the lungs.
Colonoscopy is both a diagnostic tool and therapeutic procedure. It is a screening tool for colon cancer and pre-malignant polyps. It can be used for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, colitis and lower G.I. hemorrhage. Many polyps can be removed and some hemorrhoids during colonscopy.
Early detection can improve treatment outcomes, reduce overall healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for patients. To aid in early detection, the American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should be screened for polyps and colorectal cancer, and those with a personal or family risk factors should be tested even earlier.
