The Emergency Department of Frye Regional Medical Center recently added an x-ray suite to the department. In conjunction with the hospital’s Radiology Department, the suite was constructed to allow x-rays to be conveniently performed in the Emergency Department.

The suite features advanced radiology equipment capable of performing full-body x-rays including head and chest x-rays. The suite also features x-ray supportive equipment designed for pediatric patients.

According to Bill Ross, Administrative Director of Radiology at Frye Regional Medical Center, an estimated 12,000 x-ray are performed on emergency department patients each year. "Construction of the x-ray suite will allow patients to remain in the emergency department for general x-ray procedures instead of having to be transferred to the Radiology Department," said Ross. "It is beneficial to patients because they can remain in the department with immediate access to their attending physician and the emergency medical equipment they may need."

Ross added that the suite also offers benefits to staff in that x-rays can be performed more quickly and conveniently. "Use of this x-ray suite is solely dedicated to emergency patients, whereas the Radiology Department serves the hospital as a whole – scheduling in and outpatient procedures," said Ross. According to Ross, more extensive radiology procedures – including MRI and CT Scans – are exclusive to the Radiology Department and patients need to be transferred for those types of procedures.

Jan Buckner, Administrative Director of the Emergency Department states that her staff members are pleased with the new addition. "The x-ray suite – like the ED – is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a trained radiology technologist," Buckner said. "Addition of the x-ray suite supports our mission to combine quality and convenient care that exceeds our patients expectations."

Cost of the suite including construction and equipment was just over $350,000.