Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging

Nowhere does Frisbie Memorial Hospital's commitment to technology show more than in our Radiology/Imaging Department. Radiology provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, with some of the most up-to-date technology available. Staffed by board-certified cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons, we provide a high level of care that remains sensitive to patient needs.

Frisbie Memorial Hospital utilizes Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) to provide greater convenience to both patients and physicians. With PACS, patient images may be sent electronically to a workstation where a radiologist may view them, eliminating the need to transport film. Hospital employees who have permission to access patient information can more easily obtain patient images, which can often lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment.

Even if your personal doctor is based out of the area, many patients choose to have their imaging needs met at Frisbie Memorial Hospital.

To respect our patients' privacy and comfort, we have designed new, state-of-the-art clinical spaces for interventional radiology, in which patients and their families can stay in touch with one another throughout the procedure.

Safer Imaging

The Radiology team at Frisbie Memorial is looking at every possible way to reduce a patient's overall exposure to radiation. Frisbie Memorial has been working closely with General Electric (GE) to decrease the radiation used by the hospital's CT scanners. The CT image protocols on both scanners have been adjusted to incorporate new weight-based, low dose techniques for adults. A GE dose reduction program specifically for children, called Featherweight, was also implemented on both CTs. These changes reduced radiation by 30%, and for some of the more complex exams the exposure has been cut in half.

Radiology/Imaging Services include:

64-slice Computed Tomography (CT) - The GE LightSpeed VCT, the world's first volume CT system is able to capture images of a beating heart in five heartbeats, a single organ in one second and can perform a whole body trauma series in less than 10 seconds - more than twice as fast as conventional multi-slice CT scanners. Typical procedures include vessel analysis, stroke workup, and oncology care, spinal and abdominal injuries.
PET/CT - A technique that provides metabolic imaging of the body, and shows how the body's organ systems are functioning and how cells are growing. PET may indicate cancer-related changes to cells before these changes could be revealed by a CT or MRI.
Interventional Radiology/Cardiac Catheterization - These are minimally invasive procedures that use imaging catheters and balloons that are guided into the vascular system. These procedures are performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, enabling a physician to create a "roadmap" of vascular structures.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - A noninvasive method of obtaining images of internal soft bodily tissue such as the brain and the spinal cord through the use of powerful magnets and radio waves.
Nuclear Medicine - Imaging technique where small amounts of radioactive substances are injected into a patient to trace disease processes.
Ultrasound - A procedure in which high-energy sound waves are bounced off internal tissues or organs to make echoes. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of the machine, forming a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
Breast MRI - State-of-the-art breat MRI imaging is used for screening high-risk women with known breast cancer, a family history of breast cancner or women with breast implants.
Mammography - Offered by Women's Life Imaging in Somersworth.

The hours of operation are as follows:

CT - Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
MRI - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday 1:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Breast MRI - Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
PET Scan - Friday 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Nuclear Medicine - Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ultrasound - Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
General Radiology - Monday through Sundays (walk-ins welcome) 24 hours/7days a week

All diagnostic services have after hours, emergent call coverage.