What’s happening: It was earlier this year, February 2022, when
The Chartis Center for Rural Health named
Hillsdale Hospital as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the country. It’s programs like the recently announced PET/CT scan services that are likely among the chief reasons why. Hillsdale Hospital has introduced an innovative solution in providing PET/CT scans in an otherwise underserved area, a mobile PET/CT scan machine that will visit their Hillsdale campus each week.
What it is: Hillsdale Hospital will utilize a mobile Siemens Biograph MCT-20 machine for PET/CT scans each Wednesday at their Hillsdale campus. It’s the type of equipment on par with what’s found at the larger hospitals and academic health systems typical of more urban, densely populated areas, services that residents of Hillsdale and the surrounding communities would have to drive sometimes hours to access. The PET/CT scans play a critical role in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating cancer, heart disease, brain disorders, and more.
Top 100: Introduced 12 years ago, the
Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX assesses rural and community hospitals by way of inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and financial efficiency. It’s considered by many in the industry as the most comprehensive assessment of rural hospital performance. “Due to the unique environment rural hospitals operate in, financial sustainability is much more difficult than in urban and suburban areas. Because of this, we cannot afford to stop or slow down our growth strategy, even in the midst of a pandemic,” JJ Hodshire, president and CEO, said at the time of their being named to the Top 100. The weekly mobile PET/CT scans serve as yet another instance of Hillsdale Hospital doing just that.
Why it’s important: “Many PET/CT services book out weeks in advance, but we can typically get patients in within seven days,” says Rachel Lott, director of marketing and development for Hillsdale Hospital. “This service is critically important to patients who need it — especially those who require routine or frequent scans — so having it available close to home can make a real difference in their health journey.”
Interested in scheduling a PET/CT scan? Patients or their physician can call (517) 939-1451 or visit www.hillsdalehospital.com.
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
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