Extreme Make-Over
Faculty Practice Radiology Reception Area.
NYU has been the on-campus provider of outpatient imaging services at NYU Medical Center since 1980. Our referring clinicians have always recognized the skill and dedication of the NYU radiologists; however, to meet their expanding imaging needs, and the needs of their patients, the aged facility was very much in need of improvement. Additionally, to focus increased attention on our outpatient practice and to foster improved patient and physician satisfaction, Dr. Alec Megibow graciously accepted the significant responsibility and effort to direct this facility. Dr. Megibow, now Director of NYU Faculty Practice Radiology (NYU-FPR) is firmly dedicated to creating the most attentive and efficient patient oriented service possible, while providing the highest quality in imaging, radiologic consultations and expertise, and patient care. Dr. Megibow’s vision for NYU-FPR is quite simply to grow the facility into an outpatient imaging center that provides patients, referring physicians, and those who work there, with a diagnostic experience and environment exceeding any private practice imaging facility in the New York area.
Renovating while serving patients
To renovate a 20-year-old facility while maintaining imaging services in a timely manner for our patients was indeed challenging. Under the guidance of Andrew Litt, M.D., Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Finance, Bernard Birnbaum, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Operations, and Michael Harbeson, Administrative Director, a 15 month phased renovation was planned and implemented. The entire clerical staff was moved to a temporary facility in the lobby of the Arnold and Marie Schwartz Health Care Center. Patient areas on the 2nd floor were separated during extensive construction from the inner core, with the challenging consequence that neither area could communicate with the other. Our technologists had no place to put their coats or even sit for a break. But, the temporary inconveniences resulted in vastly improved physical space. NYU-FPR can now receive patients in an office with added dressing areas, more comfortable waiting rooms, and an enhanced level of patient privacy. Comfortable seating, bright lighting with modern fixtures and warm wooden paneling set the tone for our upscale, patient oriented, advanced imaging facility communicating a sense of calm professionalism.
Directorship at NYU-FPR (from left to right): Elliott Beranbaum, M.D. Associate Director, Alec J. Megibow, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.R., Director of NYU Faculty Practice Radiology.
Upgrading Technology
State-of-the-art radiography, fluoroscopy and CT units have replaced all of our prior equipment. We now boast two Siemens Sensation 16 multi-detector CT scanners. These scanners have propelled our capabilities to deliver the highest quality images supplemented by 3-D analysis and image display. NYU-FPR was the first site in the United States able to scan patients utilizing Siemens’ unique Straton® CT tube. This tube allows scans to be performed in less than 400 milliseconds, thereby lowering radiation dose to the patient without sacrificing image quality. Combining faster imaging with ultra-thin slices has expanded the scope of CT applications. For instance, this capability enables the production of CT coronary angiograms as well as studies of the left atrium for anti-arrhythmia therapy. Our CT urograms now have replaced the intravenous pyelogram (IVP) for visualizing stones and other causes of hematuria. Peripheral CT angiograms can non-invasively evaluate patients with complex peripheral vascular and carotid disease. 3-D CT enterography is at the cutting-edge of imaging bowel disorders. Under the leadership of Drs. Michael Macari in abdominal imaging and David P. Naidich in thoracic imaging our department has been in the vanguard of CT screening for colonic polyps and early lung cancer. The ability to obtain ultra-thin sections producing musculoskeletal images with exquisite anatomic detail. To aid our dental colleagues we now offer Simplant®, image presentation and analysis technology creating pretreatment CT images for patients being evaluated for implant therapy.
NYU-FPR was the first site in the United States to receive a Siemens AVANTO MR system. This system permits rapid acquisition of images from the entire body allowing the performance of studies such as full body MR vascular screening. Associated with the AVANTO is improved gradient performance which, in concert with parallel imaging, makes possible decreased imaging time and improved patient throughput, resulting in decreased waiting time for examinations. These magnets facilitate implementation of new applications including brain perfusion, tumor flow kinetics and spectroscopy—an example of the agility of our department to translate advances from the laboratory bench directly to our patients. We have also installed the first high-field open extremity magnet in our 22nd Street facility, permitting evaluation of the peripheral joints with image quality far beyond traditional open “low field” extremity magnets.
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