We’ve decided to post case scenarios to further our understanding of the importance of CT scanners!

CT scanners are a VITAL part of diagnosing patients in order to care for them properly!

Today’s patient is an 18 year-old male who was brought into Mission Memorial Hospital at 2 AM after falling and hitting his head.

• He had been at a graduation party drinking.
• He is otherwise healthy and not on any medications.
• He smells of alcohol, is drowsy, and only responds if stimulated.

Is he ’just drunk’ or does he have a significant head injury?

• We will need to CT scan in order to get our answer. This is URGENT as he could have a very serious head injury.

So what happens now?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP) recognizes the need for a CT scan.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for procedure.
• Emergency Room physician calls Patient Transfer Network (PTN) arranging transfer to ARH.
• Mission Memorial Hospital arranges for nurse escort.
• Patient waits for transfer.
• Is taken to Abbotsford Regional Hospital, possibly returned to Mission Memorial Hospital.
• Diagnosis of acute subdural (bleeding around the brain) made.
• Call Patient Transfer Network to arrange transfer to Royal Columbian Hospital.

This is clearly a lot of time and resources used in order to obtain a CT scan for this particular patient. What should the events look like if the Mission hospital already had a CT scanner?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP)recognizes the need for a CT scan.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for procedure.
• Procedure done on site.
• Diagnosis made.
• Emergent transfer to Neurosurgery at Royal Columbian Hospital.

Possibly saving several hours and reducing risk of permanent brain damage. CT scanners are a NEED and Mission Memorial Hospital does not have one. Help us achieve our goal of bettering health care in Mission by obtaining a CT scanner for our hospital! Visit the link in our bio and find out how you can help us reach this goal! We appreciate any help we get and thank you for helping your community better their health care!

Second example

• A 26 year-old female presents to Mission Memorial Hospital Emergency Room with right lower quadrant (RLQ)pain for the past 15 hours. Now nauseated, starting to vomit, pain increasing. Pain with movement.
• She is healthy, sexually active, on birth control and does not take any other medication.
• Examination shows tenderness in the right lower quadrant with rebound, mild fever, mild anemia, negative pregnancy test.
• She probably has appendicitis but may have a bleeding abdominal pregnancy, ovarian problem, or other abdominal problem.

She needs a CT scan

What happens now?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP)recognizes the need for a CT scan.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for procedure.
• Emergency Room physician calls Patient Transfer Network (PTN) arranging transfer to Abbotsford Regional Hospital
• Mission Memorial Hospital arranges for nurse escort.
• Patient waits for transfer.
• Is taken to Abbotsford Regional Hospital, possibly returned to Mission Memorial Hospital.
• Diagnosis of appendicitis made.
• Emergency Room physician calls surgeon on call or Abbotsford Regional Hospital Emergency Room and arranges transfer.

This is clearly a lot of time and resources used in order to obtain a CT scan for this particular patient. What should the events look like if the Mission hospital already had a CT scanner?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP) recognizes the need for a CT scan.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for procedure.
• Procedure done on site
• Diagnosis made.
• Emergency Room physician calls surgeon or Abbotsford Regional Hospital Emergency Room physician to arrange transfer and urgent surgery.

This likely saves hours and decreases the risk of complications from the ruptured appendix and from infection. CT scanners are a NEED and Mission Memorial Hospital does not have one. Help us achieve our goal of bettering health care in Mission by obtaining a CT scanner for our hospital! Visit the link in our bio and find out how you can help us reach this goal! We appreciate any help we get and thank you for helping your community better their health care!

Today’s post is another case study in which a CT scanner was very important!

• A 66-year-old male presents to Mission Memorial Hospital Emergency Room with severe pain mid-lower back, sudden onset. Not worse with moving. Some nausea and some pain in the mid-abdomen.
• He has atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries) and diabetes and is being treated with appropriate medication.
• He moves well. No back tenderness or tight muscles. Tender mid-abdomen with pulsating mass. Mild anemia.
• He may have a bleeding abdominal aortic aneurysm and needs an urgent CT and possible surgery.

What happens now?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP) recognizes the need for a CT scan and initiates emergency treatment.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for procedure.
• Emergency Room physician calls Patient Transfer Network (PTN) arranging transfer to Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
• Mission Memorial Hospital arranges for nurse escort.
• Patient waits for transfer.
• Is taken to Abbotsford Regional Hospital, possibly returned to Mission Memorial Hospital.
• Diagnosis of bleeding abdominal aortic aneurysm made.
• He needs emergency surgery.
• Emergency Room physician calls vascular surgeon on call or Abbotsford Regional Hospital Emergency Room Physician and arranges transfer.

This is clearly a lot of time and resources used in order to obtain a CT scan for this particular patient. What should the events look like if the Mission hospital already had a CT scanner?

• Emergency Room physician (ERP)recognizes the need for a CT scan.
• Emergency Room physician calls to arrange for the procedure after starting urgent treatment.
• Procedure done on-site.
• Diagnosis of bleeding abdominal aneurysm made.
• Emergency Room physician calls surgeon or Abbotsford Regional Hospital Emergency Room physician to arrange transfer and urgent surgery.

This likely saves hours and decreases the risk of complication – people die of unrecognized or untreated ruptured aneurysms!!!! CT scanners are a NEED and Mission Memorial Hospital does not have one. Help us achieve our goal of bettering health care in Mission by obtaining a CT scanner for our hospital! Visit the link in our bio and find out how you can help us reach this goal! We appreciate any help we get and thank you for helping your community better their health care!