Update for Sep 2011
Posted 06/09/2011
Northern Nuclear Medicine, Tasmania, presentation on Medical Grand Round at the Launceston General Hospital
On Tuesday 11th October, 2011, 12.45 p.m. (lunch provided from 12.15) , in Lecture Theatre level 2, LGH, Dr Andrew Snarski will present recent updates in “Nuclear Imaging in Pulmonary Embolism”, after a short “hot case“ regarding a neuro-endocrine tumor.
New “state of the art “ Siemens Symbia T SPECT / CT scanner installed at St. Vincent’s site of NNM
Faster and more accurate diagnosis is currently achievable, after the installation of a new double head gamma camera with low energy CT scanner in June/July 2011. This will provide image correction for soft tissue attenuation in obese patients, and anatomical localization of small “hot spots” on bone scanning and in endocrine imaging.
All outpatients referred for myocardial perfusion studies (MIBI
Rest/Stress), to investigate myocardial ischemia, will be scanned
with the new gamma camera. The stress part of the study will be
performed at our LGH site for safety reasons (as code blue is
provided only at LGH). Soft tissue attenuation correction will be
beneficial in many obese patients with suspected ischaemic heart
disease.
New Symbia T Spect/CT scanner installed at the St.Vincent site of NNM
Senior NM Technologist Gary Little runs the quality control protocol for the new Symbia T scanner before patient scanning.
Update for June 2009
Posted 22/06/2009
20 Years Of Northern Nuclear Medicine
On 1st of July 1989 we started the first private Nuclear Medicine service in Tasmania.
The practice was established at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Launceston. The service was staffed by two part time Technologists (Kimbra Teesdale & Julie Kohlenbecker) and two part time physicians.
In 1999 we expanded the practice with new sites at Burnie NW Medical Centre and the Launceston General Hospital.
Now celebrating our 20th anniversary we would like to congratulate and thank all our staff, particularly Kimbra and Julie for their commitment and dedication.
We would like to thank all our Colleagues in Northern Tasmania for their continued support and cooperation.
NNM 20th Anniversary Celebrations: Dr Joanna Snarski, NMT Julie Kohlenbecker, NMT Kimbra Teesdale, and Dr Andrew Snarski.
New Dual-Detector Siemens Symbia at Burnie
Our brand new, state-of-the-art gamma camera was installed in December 2008 at our Burnie site, resulting in faster scan times, significantly improved resolution, and greater flexibility of appointment times.
New Dual-Detector Siemens Symbia Gamma Camera at Burnie
Our Most Popular Studies
Bone scans
identifying fractures; arthritis, osteomyelitis,
and malignant osteoblastic bony deposits are still the most popular examinations.
Myocardial Rest/Stress perfusion scans with
Sestamibi have become more popular in
recent years providing quick risk stratification of patients with
chest pain who may require coronary angiography. We provide
appointments within 7-10 days, depending on the patient’s current
medication.
Ventilation/Perfusion Lung scans
for the evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism, are presently less
utilized due to the introduction of CT-PA. However, VQ lung scanning
in young females is worthy of consideration, due to the much lower
radiation dose to the breasts, as compared to CT-PA.
In patients with clotting disorders, the VQ lung scan
provides better post therapy follow-up.
A biliary scan is a very reliable test for the assessment of gallbladder function. Currently, only clinicians use it.
session in your practice if requested
(Dr Andrew Snarski Mob:0418133625)
Update for January 2007
Posted 07/02/2007
As a result of a new five year contract between the Department of Health and Northern Nuclear Medicine (NNM) signed in May 2006, NNM has purchased a new state of the art Siemens Gamma camera ($350000). It was installed as a second gamma camera, operating alongside a 10 year old Siemens Diacam gamma camera at the LGH site. It has been fully operational since the 21st November.
It is the first machine in NNM based on the Windows XP Operational System, this will allow the possibility of fusing Nuclear Medicine and CT images from the Siemens CT scanner in the Department of Radiology at the L.G.H.. Fusing CT and Nuclear Medicine images helps to provide more precise interpretation of images.
The new gamma camera is supplied with the newest Emory University Myocardial Imaging Software for analysis of Sestamibi Rest/Stress studies, which will meet the growing demand for non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
The new machine will increase the availability of Nuclear Medicine imaging studies for Accident and Emergency Department LGH.
December 22, 2006 - LGH CEO Dr Stephen Ayre (second from left), inspecting the new gamma camera, with Drs Andrew Snarski, Joanna Snarski, and Ruth Winterton of NNM.
Update for August 2006
Posted 22/08/2006
- A contract to provide Nuclear Medicine services to the Launceston General Hospital for the next five years has been signed by the Minister for Health. Northern Nuclear Medicine has ordered a state of the art Siemens eCam Gamma Camera for the L.G.H. site. This will be operational by November 2006.
- Hours of service at the L.G.H. have been extended. The department is now open from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. As always after hours service is provided for L.G.H. in-patients and for patients referred to the Department of Accident and Emergency.
- Since May 2006 Sestamibi rest/stress testing has been available in Burnie. The stress part of the study is performed by Dr. Ray Wilson FRACP in his rooms, next door to our site, at the North West Medical Centre.
- This month new PC-based ECG machines for stress testing and state of the art defibrillators have been installed on the L.G.H. and St. Vincent sites.
- We are pleased to note that our digital request forms are being increasingly used by General Practitioners.
Launch of website
Posted 26/01/2006
The website of Northern Nuclear Medicine, Tasmania was launched on 26th January 2006. It is intended to provide information for referring doctors and their patients on nuclear medicine scans and procedures. It will also provide important information to staff in both Public and Private Hospitals in the North and North West of Tasmania and for medical students attending our seminars at the Launceston General Hospital.
In 2003 our practice became the last Tasmanian owned independent imaging service in the State. All reporting is done locally by nuclear medicine physicians who are always available for any referring doctor wishing to discuss scans and reports or for any queries with regard to the suitability of nuclear medicine procedures for their patient.
Emailing of Northern Nuclear Medicine reports will continue through PROMEDICUS (please see Links). We understand that some practices received incorrect advice in November from Regional Imaging with regard to discarding their Promedicus software. Nuclear medicine reports are only available through Promedicus. Please contact Promedicus for assistance if you have discarded your Promedicus software.
Hard copy images are still provided for all our studies, generally being handed to the patient on the day of the study. We feel that providing images on CD’s is not widely accepted by General Practitioners or Specialists alike. All our scans are digitally recorded on our server and backup CD’s, dating from February 2000, provide rapid access to any old study. These studies can be re-printed or emailed as required.
Our next task is to provide electronic request forms that can be loaded onto Doctors desktop computers through Medical Director. We hope to have these ready for distribution by March 2006.
We welcome any enquires and suggestions concerning our website: info@nnmedtas.com.au.
Drs. Andrew and Joanna Snarski