Inspire 2023
Wilcox: Advancing Medicine Through Imaging
From left: Wilcox radiology physicians Dr. Martin Engel, Dr. Ramya Srinivasan, Dr. Christopher Orlang and Dr. Allen Johnson, along with lead CT technologist R.C. Schnackenberg.
Patients do their best to describe what they are feeling when they are sick or in pain. But often, X-ray images that show what is going on inside the body are more reliable. State-of-the-art images reveal an organ’s structure and function, which can lead to a path for treatment and healing. That is why the team at Wilcox Medical Center is excited about the addition of the medical center’s newest CT scanner.
Wilcox averages 11,000 CT scans every year. The new CT scanner produces exceptionally clear images that offer far more data in a single scan than ever before.
The sophisticated software is not limited to still images; it can capture a detailed look at functions that involve motion, including the blood flowing through the brain or a heart beating. If doctors need to look more closely at a specific aspect, the software is capable of reconstructing 3D images of organs even after scanning is completed. That’s because each scan takes a series of X-ray images from different angles, which gives medical teams all the intricate puzzle pieces necessary to discover what they need to know.
“We can tailor each person's exam to specifically address what your doctor's looking for,” said Dr. Christopher Orlang, Wilcox’s chief of radiology. “We’re creating a personalized experience that is more accurate and should reduce the need for secondary tests. It’s advancing medicine.”
The new CT scanner will help to reduce the need for additional testing, resulting in a lower radiation dose and more comfortable experience for patients.
The high-quality scans offer so much structural insight that the images can help detect and monitor diseases and conditions, including cancer and heart disease, and diagnose muscle and bone disorders, such as fractures and bone tumors. Better yet, the findings can be produced very quickly.
“This new CT scanner at Wilcox can complete most scans in a few minutes, some in less than a minute, and provide detailed results,” Dr. Orlang said. “The same disease doesn't always appear the same way in every person. I think this CT will improve the patient experience.”
This new technology will provide more information and allow Wilcox to enhance care for patients of all ages and sizes, from young children who require a lower radiation dose scan to bariatric patients who may need a wider range of imaging.
Empowered by the Community
The goal of acquiring the latest fast and efficient imaging at Kauai’s only Level III Trauma Center drew overwhelming support from the community. Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, and The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation were the lead donors for this project, contributing $2.8 million toward the $4 million goal.
“Access to the latest medical technology is so important when ensuring the health of the community,” said Priscilla. “Mark and I are deeply appreciative for the care that Wilcox Medical Center provides Kauai, and we’re honored to assist them in securing a new CT scanner.”
Priscilla, a pediatrician, and Mark, co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, are committed to contributing to health and well-being on Kauai. This donation is their fourth gift to the medical center. It’s another reminder of how local community giving, at every level, contributes to health care.
“I definitely learned when I moved here that everybody treats everybody like family,” said Dr. Orlang. “People take care of each other here more than anywhere else I've been.”