Roper St. Francis Healthcare deploys mobile CT enhances MRI fleet

Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital has responded to the burgeoning need for enhanced imaging services in Berkeley and Dorchester counties with the addition of a new mobile CT scan.

Acknowledging the constraints of the current single fixed CT scan in meeting the demands of the growing population, the introduction of the mobile CT scan serves as a timely solution.

This mobile CT has been strategically deployed to accommodate an additional 60 CT scan appointments per week as well as offer non-invasive interventional radiology CT procedures two days per week, which include biopsies and heart imaging tests.

“The mobile unit offers much-needed scheduling relief while the hospital undergoes an ambitious expansion project,” said Director of Imaging Services Heather Nemeth.

This expansion, set to more than double the hospital's size, includes the integration of a second fixed CT scan, providing a comprehensive approach to meeting the community's healthcare needs.

The mobile CT scan, though initially a temporary fixture during the expansion phase, is poised to play a pivotal role beyond this critical period. After the completion of Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital's expansion project, this imaging resource will transition into the broader framework of Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

This mobile CT unit is situated in a trailer that can be moved to reach RSFH patients throughout the Tri-County area as needed.

"Ideally, it will be used at other facilities as we upgrade older equipment, allowing us to continue business as usual,” Nemeth said. “It will be instrumental in ensuring patients receive prompt and efficient diagnostic services at various facilities within the healthcare system.”

The new addition of the CT scan is just part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s efforts in expanding the system’s imaging services to meet the growing demand of the Tri-County area. 

"Not only are we optimizing the footprint of Roper St. Francis Healthcare through our expansion project, but we also are addressing future clinical needs of the communities we serve by enhancing our imaging services across the system,” said Troy Powell, regional president of Roper Hospital and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital.

Both optimizing the footprint and addressing future clinical needs are critical components to Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Strategic Plan.

The system has invested a great deal in upgrading its MRI fleet within the last three years, including the complete renovations of MRI departments at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Roper Hospital and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital.

Most recently, MRI scanners at Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Roper St. Francis Moncks Corner Medical Plaza and Roper Hospital Diagnostics - James Island all have received upgrades that enable radiologists to achieve pin-sharp images quicker than they have in the past. 

“By removing noise and ringing from raw images, the scans are consistently crisp,” Nemeth said. “We’re also now able to reduce scan times by up to 50 percent, smooth our workflow and enhance the patient experience as a result.”