aninsidelook
building your practice with imaging
Mr. Ridge reports the increased visualization when compared
to previous film images is significant. “We used to use
mammography film to achieve the highest level of quality
possible. But the visualization delivered by these digital images
is a dramatic improvement. We can enlarge the image to view
details in a suspicious area, and we’re able to detect and
measure lesions and other anatomy much better than we
could with film.”
“Dealing with film
and chemicals
is time consuming
and expensive.
The images are
also cumbersome
to manage
and store.”
The practice produces a wide range of digital imaging exams
such as joint studies for cruciate disease, hip dysplasia and
degenerative spine disease. The images are also used to
diagnose and evaluate cancers, in addition to a wide range of
other illnesses and injuries. The practice serves mostly dogs
and cats but also reptiles, birds and other animals that are kept
as pets.
Images often emailed for
remote consultations
Another benefit of digital imaging is the mobility of
images for consultation. The clinic has three
veterinarians working each day, but images can be
easily emailed to other veterinarians for remote viewing. “The
vets in our practice have expertise in different areas, so we
often consult with each other on cases. Being able to quickly
and easily share digital images allows us to put all of our expertise to work for each of our patients,” Mr. Ridge explains.
Like other vets, Mr. Ridge is on call when the need arises. In a
recent case, a Jack Russell Terrier fell off a 150-foot seaside cliff
and was rescued by the Coast Guard. The vet at the practice
determined the dog had a broken hip and transmitted digital
images to Mr. Ridge to see if he thought the injury could be
repaired. “I looked at the images, decided we could fix the
problem, and we successfully repaired the injury once the
patient was stable and fit for surgery,” he notes.
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