Accessing services close to home is a priority at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
Ultrasound technology has become an indispensable tool in healthcare, since it allows us to view the inside of the body in a noninvasive way for screening, diagnostic, and treatment purposes. This month, I’d like to highlight Blue Ridge Regional Hospital’s (BRRH) advanced ultrasound services, which are growing to include general OB/GYN and high-risk pregnancy scans, specialty vascular ultrasound, an array of pediatric exams, and more comprehensive breast imaging.
The hospital recently invested in new state-of-the-art equipment that has allowed our imaging department to offer these services, which are typically only offered at tertiary care centers which can be some distance away.
First, an explanation of how ultrasound technology works and what it reveals to your provider. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of many different parts of the body’s soft tissues. When the sound enters the body, it bounces back and is converted into a high-resolution image that aids in the diagnosis of a wide variety of diseases.
Most of us associate ultrasound with monitoring a baby’s development in utero, but this tool is also used to image everything from arteries and veins to internal organs and even the spinal cords of newborns.
Ultrasound does not employ radiation to do its work, is a cost-effective medical technology, and requires minimal preparation on the part of the patient. At BRRH, our team of talented sonographers are highly credentialed and experienced in these specialty areas.
I referenced the fact that our Ultrasound Services are expanding, and this summer, two new ultrasound suites are slated to open to serve our community members. Our OB/GYN suite will provide an expansive private room with an en suite restroom, welcoming and comfortable family seating, and a large screen for families viewing the thrilling ultrasound images of their babies. This sensitively designed area will also be equipped with advanced technology for future telehealth physician consultations for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. This capability is important because it allows patients and their families the opportunity to meet with specialists in remote locations and get the most advanced care.
I told a patient story in my January 2024 CEO column that vividly illustrated the importance of having sophisticated obstetric ultrasound services here for our community members. Because we had the capability to offer a local expectant mom this type of care, our dedicated Obstetrical Sonographer, Tammy Thacker, RDMS, RVT, could troubleshoot a problem that would have become serious quickly had we not had ultrasound. The mother was experiencing mid-pregnancy preeclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure) and when Tammy saw her at 31 weeks, the patient was experiencing swelling and even more elevated blood pressure. She decided to reach out to the patient’s OB/GYN and ultimately the patient was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville to deliver her baby just hours later, preempting what would have been a situation where serious complications could have arisen if the patient had waited to deliver her baby.
In addition to ultrasound’s use in pregnancy, many people also associate it with mammogram screening and breast health. Our second new suite is dedicated to specialized breast imaging and pediatric ultrasound exams as well. This area provides a spacious room in a quiet and peaceful setting and is outfitted with a large monitor for the radiologist (the experts who read and interpret ultrasound images) to review images with patients as needed.
As we celebrate the past two years of successful expansion with our women’s imaging services, including OB/GYN ultrasound, we are looking forward to the future of imaging here at BRRH. We are dedicated to providing the best, most compassionately delivered care, using the highest quality equipment, to our community members, close to home. Please ask your doctor about the new ultrasound services at BRRH or contact Ultrasound Services at (828) 766-1630.
Tonia W. Hale, DNP, MAOM, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. Hale is a proven leader with more than 32 years of progressive healthcare experience. A native of East Tennessee, she holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Walters State Community College, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in organizational management from Tusculum University, and a doctor of nursing practice degree in executive leadership from East Tennessee State University. Ms. Hale is currently a resident of Burnsville.