Lake Orion area residents now have an option instead of traveling to remote, hospital-like settings to have their mammography, ultrasounds, CAT scans and other imaging procedures done.
The Bald Mountain Diagnostic Imaging Center in the Bald Mountain Regional Medical Complex on Lapeer Road is already open to patients of HealthFirst, also in the complex, and will open to the general public on April 19.
Dr. Kevin Robertson of HealthFirst said the imaging center is one of the pieces in making the complex one-stop for area medical needs. There is already a pharmacy and physical therapy operating on site, and in the next year a surgical center will open.
The imaging center is staffed by radiologists Dr. John Goldsmith, director; Dr. David Karibo, Dr. Allen May, and Dr. Michael Gedwill, all Diplomates of the American Board of Osteopathic Radiology. Robertson said a radiologist will always be physically on site at the center.
‘They will be here offering their assistance and talking to patients,? he said. ‘The public usually rarely gets an opportunity to meet with them. There is a room just for patient consultations.?
Radiologists will also perform procedures, such as lung biopsies, on site. The center is equipped with a room for patient observation after a procedure.
‘It’s more than just doing the tests,? Robertson said.
Patients entering the center, located directly across from HealthFirst, will see ‘art-like,? framed images from ultrasounds, CAT scans and other imaging procedures done there. The imaging center is equipped to perform mammography, bone density scans, ultrasounds, general radiology, echocardiograms, cardiac stress testing, nuclear scans, CAT scans.
The center will also perform 3-D vascular scans and virtual colonoscopy, which Robertson said is one of the latest medical innovations. In about six months the center will be equipped with an MRI machine.
Throughout the center’s various waiting and exam rooms, a warm, home-like decorating style has been employed by interior designer Lauren Ritten.
‘We wanted it to feel comfortable,? said Robertson.
Women’s health services will be conducted in a private and comfortable setting where only other women will be in attendance. All procedures will be performed there by other women.
Robertson said many exam rooms there look like ‘hotel rooms? to increase patients? comfort.
Besides X-ray and ultrasound in the women’s health area, and X-ray room in the general part of the center, there is a room for the CAT scan machine, and space reserved for the MRI.
‘The CAT scan machine is a very expensive, high tech piece of equipment,? said Robertson. ‘It’s no exaggeration to say this is a multi-million dollar imaging center. This is hospital-grade equipment.?
The CAT scan results can be printed on film or digitally. Robertson said the results are sent directly to the radiologist’s computer.
‘That’s really the wave of the future,? he said. ‘Even a lot of hospitals don’t have it.?
A nuclear camera will take thyroid scans, along with a cardiac stress lab, area for nuclear stress testing and a radiology viewing area.
Patients can come to the imaging center with a prescription from their doctor for testing.
‘It’s oriented to physician service,? Robertson said. ‘They want the ordering doctor to be called the same day with a positive test result. They want written reports the next day.?
Patients may schedule their physician ordered testing from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon., Tues., Thurs., or Fri.; and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Wed.
For more information, contact the Bald Mountain Diagnostic Imaging Center at 814-7800.