| Medical |
Troop Medical Clinic receives new digitized X-ray equipment |
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| By Rob Schuette, Triad Staff New digitized equipment that has been installed at the Fort McCoy Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) should make the X-ray process easier and quicker for Soldiers, said Spc. Clayton Stewart.
Stewart, an X-ray technician for the 7212th Medical Support Unit, said the equipment also will keep Fort McCoy up-to-speed as the Army incorporates digitized X-ray equipment into its medical facilities. "The new equipment will help us handle our patient load, including during mobilizations, and keep the process moving along," Stewart said. "The system will get the information to Fort Knox (where Fort McCoy's Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) headquarters is located), and doctors can review the information as soon as it is in the computers." Prior to being able to send the information via the Internet, it could take one to two days to get a turnaround in X-ray results from Fort Knox and up to a week to get a turnaround from the VA Medical Center system. It's much easier to deal with the information in a computerized format, he said. The new equipment also will cut down on paper use. Lisa Bemis, a registered radiology/registered cat scan technician who is employed at the TMC through the Fort Knox MEDDAC, said Soldiers who need to take the information to a different healthcare provider for treatment can download it onto a compact disc for easier transport. As long as the healthcare provider has compatible equipment, the new system will be much easier to use than the previous film-based system. Another advantage of the equipment, Bemis said, is the system eliminates the use of chemicals to develop X-ray film. It also was becoming difficult to find parts for the older equipment, she said. Soldiers or units that need more information about the TMC can call (608) 388-3128 or 3025.
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