Latest Technology

The New MRI Center
In January 2006, Plantation General Hospital opened a new MRI Center conveniently located inside the hospital. Using the latest technology, all MRI exams take place within Plantation General and provide superior safety.

Plantation General Hospital is pleased to announce the acquisition of a GE 1.5 Signa EXCITE high definition magnetic resonance (HDMR) system. This state-of-the art MRI scanner is the world's first 1.5 high definition magnetic resonance unit. It provides faster, high-resolution images with a shorter, more comfortable scan time for patients. The new MRI unit provides optimal diagnostic capabilities for the assessment of the brain, spine, abdomen, prostate, pelvis and vascular regions, along with orthopedic imaging to include elbow, feet, wrist, hip and ankle.

For additional information regarding the MRI Center or any Imaging service, please contact the Imaging Department at (954) 513- 6050.

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4D Ultrasound
Imagine being able to see your baby move before he or she is born? At Plantation General Hospital, you can experience this first hand with a 4D ultrasound. The 4D Ultrasound is the latest in ultrasound technology. It takes three-dimensional still ultrasound images and adds the element of time to the process. The result, live action images of your unborn child. You can actually see your baby moving, sucking their thumb or sticking out their tongue.

A few benefits of 4D Ultrasound are:

• Gauges the progress of the baby's development
• Physicians and sonographers have better detection of issues from vascular anomalies and genetic syndromes in the first trimester
• 4D allows physicians and sonographers to analyze fetal motion and perform exams previously unavailable

For additional information regarding the 4D ultrasound, please call the Ultrasound Department at 954-513-1001.

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e-MAR
Whenever a medication is given to you in the hospital, it is documented on a MAR (Medication Administration Record) that is stored in your medical record. Until now, this has been a manual paper process.

Plantation General Hospital has implemented a computer generated or electronic version of the MAR called eMAR & Bar Coding.
This technology is part of our core pharmacy information system where all aspects about your medication orders are recorded. The critical components of this safety technology are bar coded armbands, bar coded medications and safety checks within the eMAR & Bar Coding software.
Benefits of the technology:

• Reduces medication errors through use of bar code identifiers on the patient armband and medication
• Makes patient care information readily available to nursing staff during medication administration like critical values and comprehensive allergy and drug interaction information
• Provides physicians with a comprehensive list of patient medication use

e-MAR also makes it easier for nurses to manage, document and review patient medication use as well as improving the accuracy of medication handling by helping to prevent errors.

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PACS
Picture Archiving and Communications System, more commonly known as PACS, enables images such as X-rays and scans to be stored electronically and viewed on video screens, so that doctors and other health professionals can access the information and compare it with previous images and even transmit images between facilities at the touch of a button.

For the past 100 years, film has been almost the exclusive medium for capturing, storing, and displaying radiographic images. Film is a relatively fixed medium with usually only one set of images available. PACS technology allows for a near film-less process, with all of the flexibility of digital systems. It also removes all the costs associated with hard film and releases valuable space currently used for storage. Most importantly, however, PACS has the potential to transform patients' experience of the care they receive.

PACS will allow for fewer appointments will be wasted, fewer operations postponed and less re-testing will be required due to more reliable storage and retrieval of images. It will also increase collaboration among the medical team, as the images can be viewed from multiple terminals and locations by a range of clinicians at the same time.