Emergency patients who require a CT scan will soon be able to get the procedure done right in Greenwich Hospital's Emergency Department.

The scanner’s installation in the ED, scheduled for December, means caregivers will be able to quickly assess the patient’s condition without having to transport the patient outside the department. Technicians dedicated to the ED will send the images electronically for immediate review by hospital radiologists.

Computed tomography, commonly called “CT,” produces highly detailed views of the body. The noninvasive procedure is important for many types of diagnoses, including stroke, head trauma and abdominal symptoms that may indicate critical conditions like diverticulitis or appendicitis.

“For critically ill patients who require continuous treatment and monitoring, this will allow them to have an emergency medicine physician nearby at all times,” explains Chris Davison, MD, the department’s medical director. “Anxious family members will appreciate the difference as well, because they won’t have to wait as long for results.”

To learn more about emergency care at Greenwich Hospital, including the Stroke Center and emergency angioplasty, visit Emergency Services.