Getting better sooner

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no stopping Makati Medical Center from delivering top-of-the line services to its patients.

  The hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department, one of the country’s largest nuclear medicine facilities, is now made more advanced with the acquisition of Siemens’ Symbia T, a powerful imaging solution equipped with TruePoint SPECT/CT technology that integrates two imaging techniques in one — state-of-the-art SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography, using gamma rays) and diagnostic CT (computed tomography, using X-Ray) — a combination that increases the accuracy of tests and shortens turnaround time.

  The Symbia T was officially inaugurated on July 1 in a ceremony led by Rosalie Montenegro, MakatiMed president and CEO, and Dr. Jose Eduardo Rondain, Nuclear Medicine Department chairman. Also present at the event were members of MakatiMed’s senior management, hospital employees and representatives from Siemens.

  The inauguration was followed by a lecture by Dr. Partha Ghosh, a nuclear medicine physician and radiologist who is currently Siemens Healthcare’s clinical marketing advisor.

  Ghosh said that with the acquisition of the Symbia T, the hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department has reached the “highest level” of diagnostic capability, making it comparable to the rest of the world.

  “Every physician can appreciate the value of the system,” he said.

  Symbia T performs two scans in a single, automated procedure. Since this advanced imaging technology provides more information than a stand-alone SPECT or CT scan, Symbia T can reveal even hard-to-detect conditions and risks, helping doctors diagnose disease.

  This will in turn help in the planning and monitoring of treatment with its required medication dosage, thus avoiding unnecessary surgery and guesswork.

  “The Symbia T helps doctors assess the true nature of the disease,” he said, adding that the SPECT/CT technology can pinpoint fracture fragments, ischemia and other anomalies, which may not be picked up by CT or SPECT alone.

  Symbia T’s innovative patient bed is also designed for patient comfort and ease of use. By providing both CT and SPECT studies in a single visit, patients can expect quicker exams, reduced radiation dose and shorter waiting time, preventing the long, anxious wait for test results.

  “Siemens’ Symbia T’s combined advanced capability feature lowers the possibility of repeat exams and enables us to make more accurate diagnoses,” said Rondain. “This ensures our patients’ comfort and convenience.”

  The Symbia T can be used for a range of procedures, including oncology, orthopedic, cardiac, lung and renal examinations.

(For more information, contact MakatiMed On-Call at 8888-999, e-mail mmc@makatimed.net.ph or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.)