VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital cuts ribbon on new mobile PET/CT technology
The new technology will decrease wait times for patients and help doctors determine the best treatment options for tumors.
July 08, 2024
The new mobile health solution will help providers find and determine the best treatment options for patients at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Leigh Farmer
VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital will cut the ribbon on a new 50-foot trailer designed to provide state-of-the-art scanning capabilities to patients. This new PET/CT scanner can provide an exceptionally detailed image of the whole body in eight minutes or less.
PET/CT scans are advanced tools used in cancer care to provide an accurate picture of a tumor. Unlike regular scans, PET/CT uses a special tracer to highlight areas of high metabolic activity, helping providers find and understand tumors better. Often these scans are used to determine the best course of treatment for patients.
“Immediate access to high-quality care is incredibly important to our patients and our clinical teams,” said Sheldon Barr, president of VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital. “It leads to better health outcomes and provides peace of mind. We are thrilled to be able to provide this innovative technology to our community.”
Beyond a faster, more accurate way to track cancer in a patient, this technology is on wheels. The trailer will move between Community Memorial Hospital and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital every week. In the fall, VCU Health’s Stony Point Campus will join the rotation. This traveling PET/CT will not only address patient wait times for PET/CT scans, but it will also expand each medical center’s capacity to do them in the coming months. This newest innovation aligns with the mission of VCU Health and VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to reduce health inequities for all patients.
“VCU Health is proud to bring this mobile solution to people in Virginia and Eastern North Carolina,” Barr said. “Our continued partnership between hospitals across the state further demonstrates VCU Health’s commitment to provide high quality care in urban and rural communities.”
The ribbon cutting for VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital will take place on Wednesday, July 10, at noon. The public and members of the media are welcome to attend.
Learn more about VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital's services and care teams
