WATONGA – Ultrasound and X-ray services have been available at Mercy Hospital Watonga for many years. Now a more than $211,000 investment from Mercy ensures that the most up-to-date technology provides patients with the newest imaging services available.
“Mercy is committed to investing in new technology that will help patients in this community,” said Bobby Stitt, administrator of Mercy Hospital Watonga. “These imaging upgrades will improve care and make it easier for our team to diagnose and treat patients.”
Medical imaging helps to diagnose everything from broken bones to pregnancy. Without this equipment, patients in the community would have to seek imaging services outside of Watonga.
The prior ultrasound unit has been in use for over 15 years, and the X-ray unit even longer. Both needed to be retired to make way for upgraded technology. The new ultrasound unit cost more than $86,000, the new portable X-ray unit over $125,000.
“Our caregivers are excited about the capabilities of these new units,” said Kenny Thompson, manager of operations at Mercy Hospital Watonga. “The upgraded technology is more usable for technicians and easier to read for radiologists. They both offer improved digital resolution which will ultimately increase more accurate diagnoses.”
In addition to pregnancyrelated screenings, the new ultrasound unit can provide imaging for heart, thyroid and other abdominal organs. Mercy Hospital Watonga will also be adding a new CT scanner later this spring. This advanced piece of imaging technology is not available in many critical access hospitals and has the capability to take a digital 16-slide image of the body. These scans show bone, muscle and other organs in detail and can help to diagnose internal injuries quickly and painlessly.
Together, the new technology will allow Watonga residents access to advanced diagnostic tools close to home. To schedule with Mercy Hospital Watonga radiology and imaging services, call 580-623-7211, ext. 2312.
About Mercy
Mercy, one of the 25 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized quality care and one of the nation’s largest Accountable Care Organizations. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 4,000 Mercy Clinic physicians and advanced practitioners, and more than 40,000 co-workersserving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.