GE Healthcare has installed a Discovery ST PET/CT at Premier PET Imaging of Jacksonville, a state-of-the-art freestanding outpatient facility in Jacksonville, Florida. With this system, Premier PET Imaging is providing Duval County and the surrounding medical communities with some of the most advanced imaging studies available today.

The Discovery ST PET/CT was designed with innovative features and functions that produce precise images for advanced studies in oncology, neurology and cardiology. An integrated compact gantry for fusion imaging coupled with an ultra-sensitive PET BGO detector provides high photon stopping power. This robust system is enabling Premier PET Imaging to conduct some of the most advanced cardiac perfusion studies in the nation.

"Although the benefits of cardiac PET perfusion imaging are well documented in peer reviewed literature, it is rarely available outside major academic or hospital settings," said Michael Fagien, M.D., Chief Medical Director, Premier PET Imaging, and one of the foremost experts on PET/CT imaging. "Our strategic proximity to a cyclotron facility that manufacturers and delivers nitrogen-13 ammonia (N-13) makes it possible for Premier PET Imaging to be the only outpatient medical imaging facility in Jacksonville to offer this state -of- the- art advanced medical imaging service."
"Premier PET Imaging of Jacksonville is an advanced center of excellence, using advanced technology and imaging protocols. Its expert board certified sub-specialist radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and remarkable medical team make the most of GE Healthcare's Discovery ST PET/CT," said Nilda Rivera PET/CT marketing manager for GE Healthcare. "GE Healthcare is proud to collaborate with Premier PET Imaging of Jacksonville and work with its visionary staff to bring advanced medical care to routine clinical practice."

"Not only are cardiac PET perfusion studies one of the most valuable forms of cardiac imaging, an N-13 PET perfusion imaging study is one of the fastest cardiac protocols available and takes less time than other imaging methods." said M.E. Heard, III, M.D, a board certified nuclear cardiologist practicing in Florida, with over fifteen years of experience in reading cardiac perfusion imaging studies. " By bringing cardiac perfusion imaging to the patient in an out-patient setting, Premier PET Imaging provides leading-edge imaging services in a convenient manner to the local community."

"PET/CT imaging provides a spectrum of diagnostic information," added Dr. Fagien. "The degree of accuracy with PET cardiac imaging provides the quality diagnostic information needed for confident diagnosis. In addition to the perfusion capabilities, PET/CT cardiac studies performed at Premier PET Imaging, may also be used to gather ejection fraction, wall motion and calcium scoring data, which could require two or three separate examinations with other modalities such as SPECT, CT, echocardiography or MUGA.

Beyond the clinical benefits of N-13, which provides high quality diagnostic imaging results among less-invasive tests for the detection of coronary artery disease, there are advantages for patients. PET perfusion using N-13 utilizes a patient friendly imaging protocol. Unlike other PET pharmaceuticals, N-13 provides flexibility and prior to the scanning process ensures patient stability and comfort.

Each study performed at Premier PET Imaging is immediately transmitted to one of its expert board certified radiologists (with specialties in both nuclear medicine and cardiology) and a report is electronically delivered (via a secure web network) to the patient's referring physician or cardiologist.

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