Press contact: Lora McDonald 
Director of Marketing
731-588-3484)
lora_mcdonald@chs.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volunteer Community Hospital (VCH) Enhances Ability to Diagnose Cardiac Disease

Innovative Medical Imaging Equipment Recently Installed

MARTIN, TN (October 01, 2008) – “Heart disease and cancer are now the most common causes of death in the United States,” states Steve Young, M.D., cardiologist at VCH.   “Nearly 5 million people suffer from some form of heart disease alone, and without proper diagnosis and treatment, far too many will die.” To battle these life-threatening diseases, VCH announces the installment of a high technology nuclear medicine imaging device called the Millennium MG™, manufactured by GE Healthcare.

With this innovative system, doctors have the ability to detect, characterize and quantify cardiac disease in patients. The Millennium MG provides imaging of how blood is transferred between the heart and the rest of the body. To do this, the system employs a powerful camera that generates crystal-clear images displaying a person’s internal anatomy, including the smallest heart vessels.

Our Millennium MG includes the GE Healthcare eNTEGEA™ workstation to accelerate the entire imaging and review process in our hospital. With our eNTEGRA, high-quality images of a patient are available within minutes of the scan at VCH, reducing waiting time and follow-up visits. These precious seconds are important when diagnosing cardiac emergencies.

“We want to reach the next generation of accuracy with the unique capabilities of the Millennium MG,” Steve Westenhofer, CEO added. “This installment is in keeping with the growing reputation of VCH and our commitment to this community.  We now have a full range of cardiac diagnostic capabilities right here at home.”

In addition to the nuclear medicine imaging device, VCH has installed an innovative 4D cardiovascular ultrasound system and completed the cardiac catheterization lab, which can potentially provide lifesaving diagnostic care.  Now more than ever cardiac services you need are right here at home.