Freeman Neosho Hospital is in the middle of several technology upgrades at its facility, including a new generator and equipment for its radiology department.

Joe Yust, facilities management director for Freeman Neosho, said the hospital is currently installing a 500 kw generator, replacing the 175 kw generator currently used by the hospital.

“This new generator will allow us to power up the radiology department on emergency power,” Yust said. “That will be all of our X-ray room, including CT, which is a critical function especially needed during disasters.”

Yust said the 175 kw generator powered the ICU, patient rooms, emergency lighting and some mechanical equipment.

“It will still do that with this new generator, but we will be able to add on another 600 amps to take care of radiology and a few other areas in the building. Almost everything in the 1983 wing will have emergency power.”

The install began in May.

Yust said because the hospital has dealt with several power outage issues recently, including the January 2007 ice storm, having a more powerful generator would be a welcomed safety measure.

“With the ice storm, and losing power for 48 hours here at the hospital, we had limited capabilities in the emergency department,” Yust said. “We will have everything now being able to be up and running.”

Yust said the goal for the new generator to be up and running is by the end of June.

As for the old generator, the plan is for it to be possibly placed on a trailer and made into a mobile unit for a health system first, and then for a local shelter to use in case of an emergency.

Not only is Freeman Neosho installing a new generator, it is also installing new digital X-ray equipment.

PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) will store all X-rays, CTs, and MRIs in a secure storage system.

“This will allow us to store anything we do in the radiology department in a storage system, and then let us distribute those pictures to whoever needs to see them,” said Aaron Ramsey, PACS administrator for Freeman Neosho. “We have had this in Joplin, and we will be live with it in Neosho on June 23.”

Ramsey said the PACS system would allow doctors in Joplin to see a Neosho patient’s film from a computer, and allow Neosho doctors to have instant access to films taken at the Freeman locations in Joplin.

“Doctors can get over the Internet and log in securely to see a patient’s X-ray, or if it is late at night they can do it from their home computer,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey said the quality of the digital image is enhanced compared to film. Also, the digital file will be stored in the hospital’s computer system, which will cut down on lost X-ray film and allow multiple physicians to view film at the same time. Also, the PACS system will help cut down on multiple X-rays at Freeman’s various hospitals.

Judy Lentz, coordinator for radiology at Freeman Neosho, said Freeman Neosho Hospital also installed a new CT scanner, which has the ability to take 16 slices or detectors per scan, replacing a two-detector scanner. The machine will allow doctors to acquire more data per CT scan.

“This will allow our staff to treat trauma patients faster,” Lentz said. “It is quick and more comfortable for the patient.

“Then, we have the additional capabilities to do geography studies of certain areas of the body.”