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announce ourexpansion of clinical offerings with its recent acquisition of a new Siemens SOMATOM Heart body CT Scanner. This state-of-the-art full body scanner is the lowest dose radiation scanner available today.

We have included a lot of information here about our new CT scanner, but please feel free to contact us with any other questions you might have.

What is a “CT” scanner?

Computed Tomography (CT for short) is one of the safest and most reliable examination methods available today. It is fast, uncomplicated and completely painless.

CT works with an X-ray system that rotates around you, taking cross-section pictures of your body. These pictures are then converted by a computer into so-called conclusive pictures. That is to say, CT builds up images of internal body structures and organs by scanning a series of slices with are later assembled with a computer to form a complete picture. So, with CT, the inside of your body can be very dependably and precisely portrayed and then examined.

Why not just use an X-ray?

Unline most X-ray examinations, CT can detect even the most minor changes very early on. This simplifies treatment and improves chances for recovery. Additionally, CT makes it possible to portray body parts in 3-dimensional format so overlapping areas can be easily examined.

CT Coronary Angiogram
85% of heart attacks are attribute to a sudden blockage of blood flow from dislodged plaques in the coronary artery walls. This non-invasive procedure detects the unstable, lipid-rich non-calcified soft plaques in the arteries. With early treatment and positive lifestyle changes, heart disease can be stopped, slowed, or even reversed. A contrast injection is required to visualize the interior of the arteries.

Heart View Complete
Includes both the calcium scoring test and the coronary angiogram providing you with complete viewing of the coronary arteries.

3D Dental Scan
A dedicated scan protocol and software program for the specific purpose of measuring bone mass in the upper and lower jaws for dental implants.  Requires recommendation by a dentist.

Stroke and Tumor Screen
This exam includes an Open MRI of the brain tissue, an MRA of the arteries of the brain, as well as an MRA of the carotid arteries in the neck.  This scan helps to identify changes associated with normal aging, possible risk of stroke, and lesions of the brain.

MRI of the Brain Only

These specialty scans are not covered by most insurance plans. Payment is due at the time of service.

Lung Scan
Lung cancer is the number one leading cause of cancer related death. Provide yourself or a family member with a tool for early detection of tumors as small as 3-4 millimeters in size. Early detection means highly curable odds. Lung scans are completed within 5 minutes, and are ideal for high risk patients, smokers, and those exposed to environmental pollutants or have a family history of cancer.

Full Body Scan
Ultra-fast CT scans entire chest, abdoment, and plevis in a single breath, making this our most comprehensive scan offered. The full body scan detects abnormalities of the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, and other primary internal organs. this includes a bone mineral density scan for osteoporosis, and a heart scan/calcium scoring study.

Virtual Colonoscopy
Provides a screening process for colorectal cancer and other diseases related to the colon. With this study, polyps as small as 6 millimeters can be detected. This is a non-invasive procedure done in two breath holds and less than 5 minutes. With compuyer reconstruction, we can create a virtual fly through the colon, eliminating the need for placing a scope into the bowel.

Full Body Scan and Virtual Colonoscopy

Dental/Neck Scan
Screens lower face including maxilla and mandible for identification of tumors/cancer of the salivary glands and floor of mouth. This scan also detects dysfunction of TMJ.

Bone Density Scan
The bone mineral density scan uses quantitative analysis for measuring the risk of osteoporosis for both men and women, relative to age. Early treatment of osteoporosis can prevent dibilitating hip, back, and wrist fractures.

Heart Scan/Calcium Scoring
Heart attacks are the number one killer in America. This scan is designed to identify calcium-rich hard plaques, and measures the amount of calcium deposits in the arteries that carry blood to your heart. Calcium deposits are markers for the probablity of heart disease, and typically begin to appear years before development of symptoms. Prevention today is better than treatment tomorrow.

We will take you on a personal tour of your own body. There images provide you with a powerful tool for early detection of silent heart disease, cancer and other personal health problems.

We have a program that provides early detection of various diseases before any symptoms occur, allowing for better management of disease, treatment options and better outcome of quality health.

Heart Body Scan uses state-of-the-art, ultra-fast, lowest dose, multi-slice helical CT scanner. This provides you with the most advanced, and accurate way to fully examine the entire cardiovascular system, lungs and major organs of the abdomen and pelvis. Early detection of coronary artery calcification, tumors, and other abnormalities can be found. The latest software advances provides you with fast, painless, total body scanning. By using state of the art processing, we can provide detailed 3D diagnostic imaging and visualization of your own body. Preventive health care allows you to “take charge of your life”, make appropriate changes and live a healthier, longer life.

No referrals needed. A board certified Radiologist is on staff for immediate consultation. Also, a hard copy of your images is included for your personal records. A written report will be mailed to you.

Heart-Body-Scan for early detection of heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, scoliosis, osteoporosis, degenerative changes of the sping, aneurysms, vascular disease, kidney/gall stones, cysts, prostate, ovarian disease, and more.

For early detection screening before anywarning signs or symptooms occur.

MRI machines are used to detect signs of a wide variety of diseases, including cancerous tumors, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. MRI was originally called “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging” because the way that an MRI machine works is that the magnet inside the machine causes the body’s water molecules to align themselves with the magnetic field. The “Nuclear” in the name refers to the atomic nuclei, not to nuclear radiation. Unlike a CAT scan, an MRI does not produce radiation.

This enables the MRIs computer to produce detailed images of any section of the body, and technicians can recognize problematic patterns in the brain or elsewhere in the body. With a traditional MRI machine, a patient must lie in a narrow tube, which can cause problems for people who have claustrophobia, since an MRI scan can take up to an hour. It is also not always practical for those who are obese.

An open MRI machine is much less claustrophobic. There are a few different types of open MRI machines. Some open MRIs are formed more like rings than tunnels, so that only one part of your body is in the MRI at once. Others can even examine a patient in an upright position.

One criticism of some open MRI machines has been that the resolution is not always as good as it is with the traditional tunnel-shaped MRI machine; however, technological improvements have increased image quality greatly in some open MRI machines. Your doctor should be able to tell you which kind of machine is best for you.

Note that anyone with a pacemaker or other metal in the body will not be able to use an MRI machine. However, a CAT scan is also effective at detecting potential problems, and in some cases, depending on the possible problem, better. Your doctor may order either a CAT scan, a traditional MRI, or an open MRI, depending on your individual circumstances.

When all goes according to nature’s plan, vaginal childbirth is the way babies come into this world. This means the baby is delivered from the womb, through the birth canal, and into the world as a whole new person and can usually do so without an excess of trauma or medical intervention.

But every baby is different and sometimes the birth of one is a little different from the norm, too. Sometimes some medical assistance is required to help nature along. And sometimes the medical assistance is required to save the life of the mother, the child, or both.

For differing reasons, vaginal childbirth sometimes requires the assistance of medical forceps or other mechanical devices to help the baby emerge. The infant may not be situated just right for optimum delivery or there is the birth of multiple babies, which is usually predicted well in advance with today’s medical technologies.

In a more extreme situation, vaginal childbirth procedures may be abandoned altogether to be replaced with a cesarean section delivery instead. In this situation, an incision is made into the mother’s abdomen that allows a physician or midwife to reach into the womb and pull the baby from the mother’s body, with no time in the birth canal at all.

This alternative to vaginal childbirth, the cesarean section, is often referred to as a C-section delivery and is usually reserved for deliveries where a vaginal delivery is expected to harm either the mother or the child.

Legend says the first cesarean section delivery was that of Julius Caesar, whose mother was unable to successfully deliver him via vaginal childbirth. In fact, the very word, cesarean, is said to be derived from the name Caesar. Conflicting stories say Julius Caesar’s ancestors were delivered in this fashion and the word, cesarean, comes from the Latin verb, caedere, which means “to cut.”

It’s pretty easy to rule out the possibility of Julius Caesar being born by any way other than the less-traumatic vaginal childbirth method. Ancient Roman records indicate his mother, Aurelia, lived 45 years after his birth. At that time, a cesarean section delivery was performed only to save the life of the child when there was no hope whatsoever for the mother’s survival. All caesarean deliveries were fatal to the mother in the days of ancient Rome.

Today’s caesarean section deliveries are much safer but the more natural vaginal childbirth is always the preferred option. The recovery time for the mother is much shorter and her chances of delivering future children vaginally is greater when extreme surgical procedures are avoided.

Child birth videos present a remarkable glimpse into one of life’s most fundamental but most mysterious processes. With changes to birthing procedures in most of the nation’s hospitals today, almost any parent can videotape the blessed event and relive the moment over and over as desired.

This personal opportunity to record child birth videos of one’s own children presents a far more engaging film than the child birth videos used in times past, when the process was recorded for teaching purposes only.

The first child birth videos were used only by the medical profession and people studying to enter the profession. These training tools were meant to deliver information only and any hint at personalization was avoided at all costs.

That lack of personalization characterizes much of the delivery process of just a generation or two ago. After the turn of the 20th century, more and more women began having babies in hospitals instead of in their homes and the delivery process became marked by the very latest medical practices of the time. Child birth became a highly regimented medical procedure more than a natural physiological process shared by everyone.

Of course, there were no video cameras back then so it was impossible to record child birth videos in the hospital or at home, for personal documentation or medical instruction.

Child birth videos are still being used for educational purposes but they’re also a lot of fun, too. The fun depends largely upon the sense of fun and adventure a couple feels about life in general and about the impending birth of their child, too.

And medical practitioners in today’s hospitals have learned to accept child birth videos as a part of the modern-day approach to child birth — that’s it’s a very natural physiological event that may be more safely and comfortably enjoyed in a hospital setting but it’s a family affair first and foremost.

There’s no telling who might be at the helm, taking the child birth videos. It may be the proud papa but it might also be a proud grandpapa or grandmamma. Or a sister, brother, college roommate, or close friend.

Even while the fun of child birth videos is going on in full swing as the extended family and large circle of friends gather and visit the delivery room, there’s still the very regimented medical staff on hand to step in, in the case of emergency, but even these medical personnel have come to accept the joyous event as family time.

And they’ve come to accept the fact that not all child birth videos are for teaching purposes, either. Some of them are just plain old family fun.

It doesn’t take a kid long to realize that photographs are lots of fun. They learn especially fast how much fun it is to show off photos of themselves. Why not get their fun started long before they are aware of photography at all? Why not be prepared to take some childbirth photos, documenting the very first breath your child will take?

After all, it doesn’t take a kid long to realize how much people like babies either. And as long as they can show off photos of themselves as babies, they’ll get lots of interest from all the truly special adults in their lives.

Taking childbirth photos can be a way to keep a nervous dad-to-be occupied during the process, too. This is especially true of first-time fathers who’ve never experienced this event before.

Most mothers are grateful that the days are over when fathers were relegated to the waiting room, pacing, smoking, and trying to make small talk with other fathers also waiting anxiously. Entry into the delivery room, however, might not be enough to make those new-father jitters go away entirely and having something to do besides wait and worry can be a welcome relief for both parents.

Childbirth photos that include the delivering doctor and nurses are a great way to document the event, too. Consider how much fun it would be to look back over years of childbirth photos involving all your children’s births, especially when the same obstetrical or midwifery team is there with each of them.

And long before the child him- or herself discovers the joys of photography and babies, proud parents will be asked time and time again to show photos of the blessed event. When childbirth photos are taken during the birthing process with an instant camera, that little bundle of joy can be proudly displayed within minutes.

Many parents enjoy adorning their nurseries with childbirth photos showing the baby’s first cry, first touch from either parent, and photographic evidence of all ten fingers and all ten toes, too. Today’s computerized photography software programs allow this type photo to be developed and customized in many styles and finishes, from black-and-white to sepia tones to watercolor, for starters.

Proud parents will no doubt be happy to show off the childbirth photos taken during the birth of a child. They’ll hold them dear forever and use them to recollect the memories of the birth of each child.

They’ll probably experience a whole new appreciation for the childbirth photos, though, when the child becomes old enough to understand that the baby in the photos is him- or herself at their tiniest. Watching the child explore this intimate and very personal family photography is sure to bring lots of laughter and fun throughout the child’s life.

Oh, how joyous is the birth of a baby! A cause to celebrate throughout an extended circle of family and friends. And there’s no mistaking the look of parental pride as baby photos are passed around and admired by everyone associated.

With modern videographic equipment, however, those precious baby photos no longer need to be just still shots. Today’s parents are avidly shooting childbirth videos, thanks in large part to the ease of use and affordable prices of hand-held video cameras designed for home use.

What better way to document the childhood of a beloved son or daughter than by beginning the story with childbirth videos. This first glimpse of the baby is sure to be followed by videos of baby’s first words, first steps, and first birthday celebration.

Filming childbirth videos is a wonderful way to keep a nervously expectant father occupied during the delivery process, too. For so long, fathers were excluded from the delivery room altogether and, even though hospital protocol has changed, not every father feels entirely comfortable in this realm. Putting a video camera in dad’s hands may help him overcome any feelings of being lost or helpless in this very feminine environment.

And for fathers who want a more active role in the delivery process, there is a growing list of professional videographers who have added childbirth videos to their scope of services offered. By having a professional behind the camera, dad’s hands are free to help mom through this miraculous process and to assist with the last stages of the delivery, too. Many fathers are the first parent to touch the baby, handing it over to the mother after cutting the baby’s umbilical cord themselves.

Fathers and videographers aren’t the only people allowed in the delivery room anymore and many couples make a celebration out of the process, with friends and family members taking turns coming into the delivery room to offer kind words of encouragement. Chances are someone in the crowd would be honored to serve as the “official” videographer of the blessed event. Ask around ahead of the big day so this person will be prepared to bring video equipment at a moment’s notice. Mom and dad will probably have other things on their minds when the moment arrives.

Many parents report the birth of their child as a truly monumental moment in their lives but memories grow fuzzy when the full extent of parenthood hits. Having childbirth videos to replay again later, in a relaxed moment after the excitement of the delivery has passed, is a wonderful way to relive the event.

The number of live child births compared to the number of births in general is statistical data that is frequently used to determine a nation’s state of economy and health care. The more babies born alive signifies adequate nutritional intake during and before pregnancy, access to prenatal health care, and safe means of delivering a child.

When computing the statistics for live child births, analysts usually use the number of live births per 1,000 babies delivered within a specific time frame. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a live birth one in which the baby is still living 28 days after delivery. The organization began compiling data on live births as a means of assessing the health of a country in 1950.

The WHO actually lists their data on live child births in the negative sense, listing neonatal mortality rates instead. This figure represents how many babies born in a specific location during a specific period of time did not survive beyond their 28th day of life. The latest data published represents live child births during 2007 in the WHO’s 193 member states.

Countries at the lowest end of the spectrum, meaning fewer live child births per 1,000 deliveries, are those currently experiencing violence and strife due to wartime activities or which have seen the trauma of war in recent years. Liberia tops the list with 66 neonatal deaths per 1,000 births, with Ivory Coast (64), Iraq (63), and Afghanistan (60) following closely.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, where the number of live births per 1,000 deliveries is highest, the level of affluence, or standard of living, is also highest and health care is either universal or affordable to every citizen.

Iceland, Japan, and Singapore each report only 1 neonatal death per 1,000 deliveries, meaning there are 999 live child births per 1,000 in these locations. Following with only 2 neonatal deaths per 1,000 are Andorra, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

In the United States, where money spent on health care is higher per capita than anywhere else on earth, the rate of live child births has dropped in recent years to 4 neonatal deaths (or 996 live births) per 1,000 deliveries. Analysts cite our increasingly limited access to adequate health care and the extreme cost of the health care available as reasons for the decline in the US birth rate in recent years.