News

April 27, 2015

Advanced Technology Offerings Expand at Nashoba Valley Medical Center

In addition to receiving high quality care and safety, Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s patients now have access to some of the most advanced technology right in their own community. The hospital recently enhanced its health care services with several technology upgrades, including the acquisition of the OPMI LUMERA 700 Surgical Microscope, as well as the Alcon Constellation Vitrectomy System, new emergency department monitoring systems, an iDose CT scanner, a video endoscopy system and an eICU.

Nashoba Valley Medical Center expanded its ophthalmic surgery services with the acquisition of the OPMI LUMERA 700 Surgical Microscope and the Alcon Constellation Vitrectomy System. The OPMI LUMERA 700 Surgical Microscope enables Nashoba’s ophthalmologists to see every detail and structure of a patient’s eye during routine procedures as well as complex cataract and retinal surgeries due to its high resolution and clarity. The Alcon Constellation Vitrectomy System is one of the most advanced systems for performing retina surgeries and offers faster operating times, and it enables the surgeon to work closer to the retina with less traction.

“The new system, along with the cutting-edge microscope, now allows our medical center to offer procedures such as vitrectomy and laser procedures to treat conditions such as retinal detachments, complications from diabetes, and macular puckering,” said Dr. Gisela Velez, a retina surgeon at Nashoba Valley Medical Center. “At the beginning of March, I performed the first retina surgery at the hospital using this state-of-the-art equipment and the latest in technology. It’s very exciting to be able to offer these surgeries we didn’t offer before.”

In an effort to enhance patient treatment and safety, Nashoba’s emergency department (ED) upgraded its patient monitoring systems to the Phillips IntelliVue MP30. These compact powerful monitors provide the ED care team with more extensive read outs on a patient’s vital signs and also allows nurses to prepare medication allocation calculations according to the patient’s weight.

Housed adjacent to the ED is the hospital’s new CT scanner that utilizes iDose technology. This high-tech scanner enables technicians to adjust the radiation based on a patient’s body mass index, allowing for clarity of image but reducing the radiation exposure for the patient. Also, unlike traditional CT scanners, the iDose CT scanner’s imaging process time is greatly reduced, which makes it easier on the patient.

Further groundbreaking technology improvements within the hospital include the acquisition of the Olympus EVIS EXERA III video endoscopy system making Nashoba among the first hospitals in the region to offer this service. The new endoscopy system uses a video processor, light source, endoscope and monitor, enabling physicians to peer inside the body to diagnose, detect and treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and other conditions. The advanced imaging in the EVIS EXERA III system helps Nashoba’s physicians detect GI diseases, such as colorectal cancer, at an earlier stage when treatments are most successful.

Nashoba’s other innovative technology includes the eICU, which connects the hospital in a unique way and allows for patient monitoring of the intensive care unit (ICU) at a remote monitoring center located in Westwood, Massachusetts. The eICU works by having a two-way camera and 19” LCD screen in every patient room. In addition to the dedicated ICU nurses and onsite hospital physician, nurses at the eICU center focus on all ICU patients through this two-way equipment and have access to vital signs, medications, and the electronic health records.

“In our continued commitment of quality patient-focused care, the eICU service means that we are bringing physician as well as nursing coverage, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to every bedside in the hospital,” said Alice Farrington, RN, director of emergency services and director of critical care at Nashoba Valley Medical Center. “We have seen an improvement with efficiencies, especially at night.”

All of these state-of the-art technological upgrades aided in Nashoba Valley Medical Center receiving an “A” grade from the Hospital Safety Score and a Top Hospital distinction from The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog. The Hospital Safety Score is administered by Leapfrog and is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety. It rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections. The Top Hospital honor is an elite distinction awarded to hospitals nationwide for demonstrating excellence in hospital safety and quality through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Nashoba Valley Medical Center was one of only 94 hospitals across the country to be selected as a Top Hospital.

About Nashoba Valley Medical Center

 

Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC) offers community-based primary care and specialty services. NVMC was awarded an A, the highest grade possible, in hospital safety by Leapfrog, and recipient of the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval. Areas of clinical strength include emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, physical therapy and general surgery. NVMC also offers a comprehensive Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Travel Clinic and Occupational Health Services. Nashoba Valley Medical Center is part of the Steward Health Care System LLC, the largest integrated community care organization in New England which combines over 3,000 physicians, 10 acute care hospitals, managed care, insurance programs, home care, an imaging operation, and a number of other post-acute services, to provide the most cost effective and highest quality of integrated patient care. Additional information is available at www.nashobamed.org.

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