59.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Long Island Jewish Hospital first in the nation to use new imaging technology
Earlier this year, Valley Stream Long Island Jewish Hospital, a Northwell Health institution, became the first in the country to use a new imaging technology that delivers enhanced patient care and streamlines the diagnostic imaging process with better outcomes for patients, according to hospital officials. The LUMINOS Lotus Max is a remote-controlled, two-in-one fluoroscopy and radiography imaging system enabling medical staff to conduct two traditionally separate imaging tests with one machine and quickly switch between them in a truly integrative way.
The radiography component of the machine provides still X-ray images of structural damage done to the body such as broken bones, whereas the fluoroscopy component provides something like an X-ray movie, presenting a moving two-dimensional image of the body’s internal systems at work to help pinpoint where and when they stop working, such as gastrointestinal and esophageal issues, including troubles with swallowing and speaking.
“So, for example, you drink a liquid that’s visualized under X-ray called barium, and we’re actually able to see it go through your entire system. That’s usually to see if you’re having difficulty swallowing,” said Sean Maraj, the imaging services director.
But the technology goes further than saving patients on imaging appointments and improving the speed and image quality of their test results. The system is an innovation in “patient-centric” care, according to Maraj, in its ability to “reduce radiation without compromising on any clinical outcome” by preserving an excellent quality imaging through its advanced software. “In older technologies, if you reduce the radiation for a procedure, you’re sacrificing the quality of the imagining; this compensates for that.”
“In addition, because the machine is operated remotely, medical staff no longer have to be in the room and exposed to unnecessary radiation,” Maraj said. “They can stand outside in a control room and navigate the machine using the remote controls, looking at the monitor, whereas traditionally in the past, they had to put on a lead suit and be in there with the patient, no longer case.”
The X-ray tableside option can also “go a lot lower than most tables, which is a great accommodation for those patients that are older, injured or vertically challenged and are unable to hop unto the table. This table can actually go all the way down to the ground, so they can easily just pivot, turn around and sit down.”
Because the machine covers such a wide range of examinations and diverse patient types, it has quickly become the “go-to” room for technologists and medical personnel alike and has performed well in catering to the health needs of an equally diverse community in Valley Stream and the surrounding area. “We serve patients of all ages, all demographics and various underlying clinical issues. The hospital has hit record numbers in terms of the sheer volume of patients treated for X-ray imaging.” Maraj said, “…with the hospital averaging 750 exams a month on this machine alone.”
As to the question of how the hospital was able to be the first to acquire this machine, Maraj further said, “We were already under talks with Siemens on obtaining a new [radiology] room here…Under the direction and leadership of our executive director, David Seligman, and representative from Siemens as well as myself…we negotiated for their newest machine, and at that time, they recently got [the LUMINOS Lotus Max] FDA-approval for this, so the stars aligned, and we became the first.”
The machine became operable to use at hospital as of July and has been serving patients since. “It’s not often that you hear about a community hospital being the first to get something in the country, so the fact that we were and the fact that Siemens was more than happy to oblige and to have us be their first install, we really are grateful for it,” Maraj said.
