NorCal Imaging Pleasanton Moves into Hacienda Medical Center

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Company Puts the Latest Medical Imaging Technology Under One Roof

All new digital equipment. Twice as many modalities. Three times the space. These are some of the upgrades NorCal Imaging Pleasanton has introduced in its new 10,000 square foot facility in the Hacienda Medical Center building at 5924 Stoneridge Drive.

NorCal moved into the freshly refurbished space from much smaller quarters nearby on June 23. "We have been in the area for many years and have many returning patients," says Nikki Arbogast, the company's local site manager for the past eight years. "We wanted to expand and upgrade, but we didn't want to go too far away.

"This building is amazing," she continues. "We gutted the interior and were able to reconfigure the space to accommodate several new modalities, including a high-field MRI, a 16-slice PET/CT scanner, two brand-new digital mammography machines, two brand-new ultrasound machines, a stereotactic machine, and a brand-new DEXA for bone densitometry. This is all best-of-breed technology. None of the imaging equipment from the previous location made the move," she emphasizes.

In addition to improved accuracy, faster speeds, and greater flexibility, the new systems all generate digitized images that can easily be shared by medical professionals at any of the seven Bay Area sites in the NorCal network. "Our computer system is integrated so no matter what the location we can pull up images for any patient. We can view the patient history and have access to whatever information is in the network, so there are no more worries about bringing films to appointments and so on," Arbogast relates.

Facing concerns about patients with contagious diseases like tuberculosis or serious staph infections, Aborgast has implemented several measures to safeguard public health. "I make sure my staff is well educated to deal with these situations," she says. "We use universal precautions, and gloves, gowns, and masks when appropriate. Patients with infections, even bronchitis, are directed to sub-waiting rooms, avoiding contact with others."

The NorCal network is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based RadNet, which operates 167 outpatient imaging centers in six states, including California, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Florida, and Kansas. Although the company is likely the largest service provider in its field in the United States, one of RadNet's hallmarks is an emphasis on meeting the demands of local markets. "We talk to the physicians' offices so we can be sensitive to their needs, whether relating to imaging protocols or schedules that demand occasional evening or Saturday hours," Arbogast points out. As a result, the imaging center has integrated the specialized software used by many of the area's orthopedic physicians to ensure compatible formats.

Nationwide, RadNet performs over 2.5 million diagnostic radiology and imaging procedures annually. With its 20 employees, the Hacienda facility is projected to perform between 20,000 to 25,000 exams this year, up from 15,476 in 2007.

For more information about NorCal Imaging Pleasanton, visit www.radnet.com.

Photo: Some NorCal Imaging staff members with their GE 16-slice Discovery LS CT scanner.

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