Features, Meeker

Nuclear medicine new to PMC

Pioneer Medical Center’s new nuclear medicine program is currently a mobile unit contracted with Diagnostic Imaging (Pocatello, Idaho), but there is the possibility of investing in a permanent unit in the future.
DOC WATSON PHOTO

MEEKER | A mere four weeks ago, in addition to other state of the art technology recently launched, Pioneers Medical Center added “nuclear medicine imaging” to its services, a year-long process that has finally arrived.

Greg Hanberg, PMC’s radiology director, discussed this cutting edge technology with the HT. Hanberg received his radiology training at Weber State University (Ogden, Utah) and his bachelor’s degree in health administration at Montana State (Bozeman), he went on to work at Billings Clinic, a 500 bed hospital, where he received more specialized training.

While Hanberg does not perform this particular specialized area of imagining—his specialties are X-ray and CT—he did set up the nuclear medicine (or NucMed) program and is quite knowledgeable about imaging in general.

“All imaging is about densities within the body,” he said. “NucMed is a different way of imaging than traditional radiology.”

X-ray imaging, for example, which has actually been around since 1896, uses electromagnetic waves to make an image in different shades of black and white, since different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs X-rays the most, so bones look white; soft tissues, such as fats, absorb less, and look gray; and air absorbs the least, so lungs look black.

“CT (computerized tomography) scan is a step up from X-ray,” Hanberg explained. “It spins around you to get a 3-D reconstruction of body parts, similar to the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging),”

“NucMed (however) is a completely different ball game where you inject a (radioactive) isotope, such as technetium or  I-131 (radioactive iodine). The radioactive emissions are then detected by a special camera,” and then rendered in a color image.

Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam, this “radiotracer” is either injected into the body, swallowed or inhaled as a gas. It eventually accumulates in the organ or area of the body being examined.

Among the most frequent targets of NucMed is the heart. It shows what an X-ray cannot, such as damage that has resulted from a heart attack or whether the heart is healthy enough for surgery. The great advantage of NucMed, then, is that it actually shows functionality, which X-ray and CT cannot do.

Other applications for NucMed include diagnosing respiratory and blood flow problems in the lungs, evaluating bones for fractures, infection and arthritis, investigating the brain for abnormalities such as the early onset of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, and much more.

As one can imagine, this technology comes with a price tag. While a conventional X-ray costs $300–500 and a CT $1,000–3,000, NucMed is $4,000–5,000. This is due not only to the advanced technology but also the time factor. Instead of 30 minutes for an X-ray or CT, this takes three to four hours.

Instead of investing as much as $1 million on their own unit, PMC has instead contracted with Diagnostic Imaging, a company in Pocatello, Idaho. Everything is contained inside a mobile unit, similar to a utility truck, that is now parked onsite. This allows a simple “pay-per-patient” option. “Right now this is a win-win for everyone,” Hanberg commented.

While there have been only 10 patients so far, that number will no doubt increase, so it is possible that PMC will have its own unit in the future, as do hospitals in Craig, Glenwood, Rifle and other larger hospitals. When PMC built its new facility, space was allotted for that possibility.

Nuclear medicine is another example of PMC’s continued growth.

By Doc Watson | Special to the Herald Times

One Comment

  1. Shirley Mcmullen

    Like to keep up on friends in home town of rangely & relatives in rangely & meeker

Come say hi!

@ht.1885
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🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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