Center of Excellence: Diagnostic Imaging (DI)

Ultrasound Technicians Tatjana Okuka and Angela Lee proudly display accreditation certificate from the American College of Radiology.

In 2011, MCDH opened a $7 million, 8,000-square-foot Diagnostic Imaging Center with all the latest technology, including digital mammography.

Our licensed and certified team of technologists and Radiologist work together to provide physicians with critical medical information useful in diagnosing and treating disease and illness.  You’ll find that our experienced imaging team is caring, compassionate and dedicated to quality patient care.

The DI Center includes diagnostic radiology, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and ultrasound. In addition, our state-licensed mammography program provides a follow-up reminder and monitoring service. The PACS (picture archiving communication system) allows images to be transferred via the internet to the Radiologist or any other physician. Together these services eliminate the need to refer patients out of the area for anything other than specialized services provided by large medical centers.

Appointment Number: 707-961-4665

Hours of operation for outpatient appointments (Monday-Friday):

• Diagnostic Imaging Center Registration: 8am-5:30pm
• Radiology: Walk-in’s welcome without appointments from 8am-5:30pm
• Bone density: 8am-5pm
• Mammography: 8am-5pm
• Ultrasound: 8am-5pm
• Nuclear Medicine: (Tuesdays & Thursdays) 8am-5pm
• CT: 9am-5pm
• MRI: 9am-5pm

Call Melody Casey at 813-8306 for more information

Lead Mammogram Technologist Margaret DeMarinis with the American College of Radiology Accreditation.

Why Have a Screening Mammogram?

• The American Cancer Society estimates that a woman in the U.S. has a one in eight chance of developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime.
• It is the second most common type of cancer among women in the U.S., and the leading cause of death among women 40-49.

About Our Equipment

• The GE Senographe Essential digital mammography machine can image virtually any woman with flexible, off-centered ergonomic paddles even for very small breasts to improve both patient comfort and image accuracy. Exams are quick and accurate. There is easy wheelchair access.

Our Credentials

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Certified
• American College of Radiologists (ACR) Accredited

To make an appointment, call 961-4665.

Why Have a Bone Density (DEXA) Scan?

Women are at greater risk for osteoporosis (the disorder in which progressive bone loss results in increased risk of fracture) than men.

About Our Equipment

A GE Prodigy Advance Bone Densitometry Unit: the test takes only minutes.

For More information

Please Call 707-961-4665 Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm for additional information.

New dosage control technology can be adjusted for adults and children to minimize radiation exposure.

Our Toshiba Aquilion 32-Slice CT Scanner is state-of-the-art, the same machine used at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Ca. A major patient benefit: SUREExposure™ software adjusts radiation dose according to the size of each patient, particularly important for children.

In 200 milliseconds, the gantry can rotate around a patient’s entire body—a fast scanning capability that can effectively reduce image distortion of moving organs, such as the heart and lungs. With increased speed, multi-slice CT imaging is especially useful for examining patients who are unable to hold their breath—such as trauma victims admitted to the ER or acutely ill patients and young children.

Dose Reduction Technologies

With patient care a top priority, Aquilion 32 uses ^SURETechnologies™ applications which are specifically designed to consistently deliver the highest image quality available, while simultaneously achieving significant reductions in radiation and contrast dose.

Preset Dose Reduction Program:To help clinicians optimize the patient dose during the protocol setting, dose reduction programs are preset with a low dose protocol for volumetric diagnosis and a pediatric protocol which sets minimal dose levels based upon patient age.

Personalized Dose Control:Real-time exposure control with ^SUREExposure™ automatically adjusts radiation levels based upon each patient’s size to reduce dose with no loss in image quality—providing a dose reduction of up to 40%.

Our Toshiba Radrex-1 allows for quick images which are sharp and require less radiation.

Toshiba uses special software and hardware to reduce noise by 90% over traditional MRI scanners.

The Toshiba Kalare system is extremely fast, accurate and uses the smallest dose of radiation necessary.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist Michelle Henry

Nuclear medicine imaging allows our physicians to conduct any number of diagnostic studies, including examining the heart to detect specific problems. We are proud to say that the MCDH Nuclear Medicine Department recently passed a state inspection required by all hospitals, large and small, that conduct such studies.

In the summer of 2013, a new nuclear medicine camera will be installed, bringing state-of-the-art technology to the Mendocino Coast.

Did you have a problem with your Diagnostic Imaging care? If so, please contact me.

If you have any questions, issues or concerns, contact Noe Hinojosa (pronounced E-no Ho-sa), Diagnostic Imaging Manager,at 961-4632 or nhinojosa@MCDH.net