Diagnostic Services

Diagnostic Services in McConnellsburg, Pa.

Diagnostic Imaging: When you need to have diagnostic imaging testing or have x-rays taken, trust the quality and experience of the Fulton County Medical Center Radiology Services. Our friendly staff, extended hours, and comfortable waiting and testing areas will ensure that your experience is positive and productive.

Computed Tomography (CT): CT uses x-rays to take pictures of sections of the body. A CT scan shows the body’s organs more clearly and in greater detail than regular x-rays.

Fulton County Medical Center offers a 64-slice CT scanner which provides improved image quality and speed compared to conventional CT scanners. In addition, updated computer software has allowed for a reduction in the total dose of radiation you receive from an exam.

CT scans help: • Find abnormalities in the body which may indicate disease • Determine how far a disease has spread • Show the effects of treatment and how your body is responding to it

FCMC Diagnostic Imaging offers Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screenings for eligible candidates. Eligible candidates are between the ages of 55 and 80, have a history of heavy smoking, and smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years. Heavy smoking means you have a smoking history of 30 pack years or more. For example, a person could have a 30-pack year history by smoking 1 pack per day for 30 years or 2 packs per day for 15 years.

Lung cancer screening looks for potentially cancerous spots in the lung called pulmonary nodules. Screening is best performed with a low-dose CT scan, which can detect nodules up to 10 times smaller than those that can be seen by x-ray. This type of screening offers the best chance of finding lung cancer in its earliest, most curable stages.

Appointments Required: Please contact our Scheduling Department, 717- 485-2886.

DEXA Scan: Testing your bone density -- how strong your bones are -- is the only way to know for sure if you have osteoporosis. One common test doctors use is called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA).

DEXA scanning focuses on two main areas -- the hip and the spine. If you can’t test those, you can get a DEXA scan on your forearm. These areas can give your doctor a good idea of whether you’re likely to get fractures in other bones in your body.

Appointments Required: Please contact our Scheduling Department, 717-

485-2886

Lung Cancer Screenings: Why depend on luck to discover an early lung cancer? Routine mammography and colonoscopy save many lives by discovering breast and colon cancer at an early curable state; why not screen for lung cancer?

Early Detection is Key

Early detection and diagnosis of a lung nodule, which may be cancerous, provides the best chance for a cure. Lung cancer has been one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, as well as in Fulton County. There is now clear evidence that screening people at high risk for lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan leads to 20% fewer deaths from this disease. At FCMC, we offer a low-dose screening CT scan to identify nodules or other findings suggestive of lung cancer which can then be managed by one of our specialists.

What is a Lung Nodule?

A pulmonary nodule is any “spot” in the lung that is less than 3 centimeters in diameter. Often these nodules cause no symptoms and therefore go undetected. The majority of nodules are found through testing performed for other reasons, such as x-rays or CT scans for pneumonia or abdominal pain. While most pulmonary nodules are benign and can come from an infection or scar tissue from old infection, some are early signs of lung cancer and require prompt evaluation.

monary nodules by a team of skilled specialists, including primary-care physicians, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, interventional radiologists and a nurse practitioner.

This team works together to: • Thoroughly evaluate each nodule • Develop a comprehensive individualized plan of care utilizing the most advanced technologies • Significantly reduce the time from detection to treatment.

The FCMC Lung Cancer Screening Program recommends screening for the following individuals: • 55-79 who have smoked the equivalent of one pack daily for 30 years • 50-79 who have smoked the equivalent of one pack daily for 20 years and have one additional risk factor

Additional risk factors are: Radon exposure, asbestos exposure, cancer history, strong family history of lung cancer, significant second-hand smoke exposure, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis. Lung cancer screenings are not for patients with active cough, hemoptysis, and shortness of breath. (These patients will require a regular CT scan of the chest.)

Screenings are $99 and are NOT covered by insurance.

Lung cancer screenings at FCMC require a physician order and a scheduled appointment.

To schedule an appointment, please contact us: 717-785-6107

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

MRI is a non-invasive test that uses magnetic waves to take two- and three-dimensional pictures of the inside of the body.

Our GE 1.5 Tesla MRI can take fast and accurate pictures of the body from all angles so the radiologist can look at body parts, organs and tissues from head to toe, allowing for more accurate diagnoses. We also offer a large bore opening which helps accommodate patients with a large or broad frame, as well as those with claustrophobia.

Appointments are required. Please contact our scheduling department, 717-485-2886.

Nuclear medicine: Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to assess bodily functions and to diagnose and treat disease. Specially designed cameras allow doctors to track the path of these radioactive tracers.

Nuclear medicine services offered at FCMC include, but are not limited to, bone scans, cardiac stress testing, gallbladder scan, gastric emptying study, liver/spleen scan, lung VQ scan, renal scan, and thyroid uptake scan.

Appointments are required. Please contact our scheduling department, 717-485-2886.

Ultrasound: Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, is the measure of echoes throughout the body in the form of sound waves. These high-frequency sound waves produce images of your body’s organs or the blood flow through your veins and arteries. Conventional ultra

sound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Advancements in ultrasound technology include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound which formats the sound wave data into 3-D images.

Ultrasound services offered at FCMC include, but are not limited to, general studies, abdominal, obstetric, gynecological and vascular exams.

Appointments are required. Please contact our scheduling department, 717-485-2886.

General x-ray: An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses x-rays to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of the body. Imaging of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and bladder, and joints (arthroscopy) are offered at FCMC. Walk-ins are welcome for general x-ray services. No appointment is necessary. All other procedures require an appointment.

Mammography: A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue. Doctors use mammograms to determine changes in breast tissue or detect early stages of breast cancer.

FCMC Women’s Imaging Department offers state-of-the-art digital mammography and 3D mammography (tomosynthesis). Both screening and diagnostic mammogram imaging are offered by appointment. We also have a breast health navigator to help guide patients through scheduling and treatment.

Spa Days: Available one Saturday a month. Come out and enjoy a complimentary massage and manicure after having your screening mammogram. Please contact our scheduling department or breast health navigator for availability.

Digital mammography produces high-quality images of the breast that can show cancer that may be too small for you or your doctor to feel. Digital mammograms also allow for more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer and easier access to your imaging results by your referring physician.

3D mammography, also referred to as tomosynthesis, is an imaging procedure that uses low-energy x-rays to create a 3D image of the breasts. 3D mammography takes additional images from varying angles to produce a three-dimensional image of the breast. This allows the radiologist to view the tissue in smaller sections and in greater detail. Benefits of tomosynthesis include improved imaging for patients with dense breast tissue. Appointments are required. Please contact our scheduling department, 717-485-2886. Breast health navigator: Kriste Shoop, 717-485-7309. ■

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for those 0-45 years of age. The Fulton County Medical Center is the only Level IV Accredited Trauma Center in the Southcentral Mountain Region with the closest Level I Trauma Center 72 miles away. Research suggests that death rates are reduced up to 25% among injured patients treated in trauma centers organized into a regional and/or statewide trauma system.

What does this mean for you?

• Emergency department physicians certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support • Registered nurses trained in trauma care • Expedited transfer to Level I Trauma, pediatric and burn centers

Resources immediately available to provide optimal care and reduce the likelihood of death or disability. • Bleeding control • Blood replacement • Anti-coagulation reversal • Advanced airway support/augmentation • Breathing support/augmentation • External fracture stabilization

The Emergency Department providers at the Fulton County Medical Center are continuously prepared and trained to treat the most severe and life-threatening injuries while preparing for expedited transfer to definitive care. Those with minor injuries can received acute care and rehabilitation from our Acute Care and Swing Bed services.

Interested in learning more about STOP THE BLEED training being offered by the Fulton County Medical Center’s trauma program?

Please contact the trauma program manager at 717-485-2815 ssmith3@fcmcpa.org to set up group training sessions on how to apply direct pressure and tourniquets to bleeding wounds! Examples of groups include: • Church groups • Businesses • Emergency medical systems • Correctional facilities • Farming industry • Construction companies • Firearm distribution locations • Public health events ■