With a view to strengthening the radiology of the Policlinico Riuniti of Foggia with the latest generation equipment, the strategic direction of the Policlinico “Riuniti” of Foggia has promoted the largest investment in new technologies made in recent decades in Capitanata.
The extensive redevelopment process of the Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia has been enriched with the acquisition of new state-of-the-art radiological equipment, designed to meet the most innovative quality standards required by precision medicine that goes towards early diagnosis, personalization of care on the characteristics of the individual patient and on the need to satisfy the demand for an extended territory that gathers a very large catchment area, both in the regional and extra-regional contexts.
The pinnacle of technology is represented by three new Spectral-TCs, 256 slices of the latest generation with a 16 cm detector, currently the largest available, double energy with Spectral technology and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in the image acquisition phase instead of in post-processing. These Computed Tomography systems are the most advanced available on the market, supplied in very few centers in Europe e at the moment, with this configuration, present in Italy only at the Policlinico Riuniti in Foggia. They allow less invasiveness for the patient by reducing the amount of contrast medium required by up to half and the radiation dose by up to 90% compared to traditional CT equipment. The new acquisitions will make it possible to provide a high qualitative and quantitative level of assistance to the population of the Region and will also allow it to be attractive to users of the neighboring extra-regional territories, allowing to satisfy the request for highly specialized exams. Furthermore, the acquisition of CT equipment, unique in the area, will also be of great impetus for the training of doctors of the Specialization School in Radiodiagnostics and of the students of the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery and of the three-year Degree Courses of Techniques of Medical and Nursing Radiology of the University of Foggia, who will be able to learn about the most modern equipment currently available.
Furthermore, the Policlinico di Foggia is the first and only public structure in Puglia (with Ecclesiastical Bodies) to have acquired a MRI 3 TESLA, a device with a high intensity of magnetic field that ensures maximum accuracy and speed of diagnostic investigations, both in terms of image quality and definition, and in terms of acquisition speed, of various parts of the body. MRI 3 TESLA Resonance is a “gold standard” for pathologies of all organs and systems as it allows morphological, perfusion, diffusion and functional studies. It is a device with a compact magnet design with a large gantry, with a minimum diameter of 70 cm larger than the average of existing MRI machines, and therefore, although it has a traditional configuration, it is qualified as an “Open Bore ”because it allows easier access to obese or overweight patients and also allows to effectively reduce the classic claustrophobic effect. This device also benefits from effective noise reduction systems making the examination more comfortable for the patient.
Upon completion of the technological update, a Multifunction robotic radiological equipment, dedicated to radiological examinations in the Emergency Department, for which the Policlinico di Foggia is one of the eleven installations in Italy, three of which in the South, two of which in Bari and one now at the Policlinico Riuniti. The Multifunction Robotic Radiological System is characterized by speed and precision and is the first radiological robotic device with two synchronized robotic arms that rotate around the patient, allowing a multitude of examinations, from gastrointestinal investigations, to angiographic control, to aortography, to liver biopsy without ever having to move the patient to other diagnostic sites. This equipment allows you to make radiographs not only in 2D but also in 3D, as well as contrast examinations up to applications also in orthopedics and angiography. The device is equipped with a bariometric table for patients even of heavy weight as well as a series of accessories for radiographs also in 3D both in the upright and supine position.
In addition, the Policlinico Riuniti will also be equipped with a whole series of latest generation equipment such as a Digital Radiography (digital radiological device), a multifunctional digital remote control, two digital multidisciplinary ultrasound systems equipped with advanced software to optimize workflows and equipment and ultrasound systems. portable.
All the new latest generation radiological equipment is mainly located in the Emergency Department (DEU) under the direction of prof. Luca Macarini, Director of the Department of Radiology and of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, of Dr. Giampaolo Grilli, director of the complex structure of hospital radiology and the doctor Egidio Guerra, Head of the SSVD of Emergency Radiology.
The next generation of a new 128-layer CT scan at the D’Avanzo plexus and the CT update at the Lastaria hospital in Lucera are also part of the technological update.
Of the latest generation radiological equipment, a new Spectral-TC is already in operation at the DEU while the others will be in operation from September. In fact, training activities for managers and technicians on these new equipment are underway.
“The conspicuous intervention of the company management to enhance the diagnostic offer with the most advanced machines means guaranteeing complex and elective examinations ‘at home’ – declares the general manager of the Policlinico Riuniti of Foggia, Vitangelo Dattoli. A gesture of attention that avoids inconvenience and unnecessary movement of our citizens who will not have to go elsewhere to perform even an important exam. All the large radiological equipment of the Policlinico Riuniti has been implemented with ideas of great interest such as the 3 TESLA magnetic resonance, the latest generation CT scans and the highly versatile equipment especially in the emergency sector. Currently, the image analysis technology of the Policlinico Riuniti is certainly to be considered among the largest in Italy. And we are proud of this. The investment also involved other aspects. The Emergency Radiology department, for example, will be equipped with numerous, large and comfortable waiting rooms for patients coming from the ER and for internal and outpatient patients, rooms for pre-examination preparation and for post-observation. -exam, medical clinics and numerous reporting stations. An adequate humanization intervention was carried out in the environments that were made more comfortable with the installation of backlit photos and paintings depicting natural landscapes that make the whole area pleasant ”.