Centra has taken strategic steps to expedite patient care by adopting GE HealthCare’s Vscan Air™ CL and Vscan Air ™ SL, which will enable healthcare providers to perform ultrasound examinations promptly at the point of care, providing immediate insights and enhancing diagnostic capabilities.
Vscan Air technology is an innovative wireless ultrasound system that combines the portability and convenience of handheld ultrasound with the power of app-based connectivity, diagnostic imaging and advanced analytics. As an early adopter of handheld ultrasound, Centra will be coupling Vscan with GE HealthCare’s Viewpoint software to streamline clinical capabilities, saving valuable time across departments where ultrasound is used and helping reduce patient wait times.
“Now more than ever, clinicians require smarter tools that increase the access to and efficiency of care anywhere1 patients need it,” said April Tucker, Executive, Strategic Clients at GE HealthCare. “We are excited to expand our collaboration with Centra to further the reach of care and training. Vscan Air puts powerful, portable technology in the hands of Caregivers and brings high-quality screening to more patients across Central Virginia. Centra is amongst the first healthcare systems to embrace workflow standardization and equip frontline caregivers with handheld ultrasound.”
Effective July 16, 2024, the Vscan Air technology will be used across all Centra locations. This technology will primarily be used in the emergency department, family medicine and transport services, empowering Caregivers to accelerate accurate diagnoses and quickly determine the next steps for patient care.
“Bedside ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic tool, especially in the emergency department, where minutes matter in the care of our patients,” said Dr. Caitlin O’Callaghan, Ultrasound Director for Emergency Services at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. “A handheld ultrasound device makes it much easier to evaluate our patients more thoroughly so we can provide them with the most appropriate treatment. Bedside ultrasound is helpful for diagnosis and an incredibly useful tool for procedures, increasing the safety of our patients.”
The Vscan Air produces clear, precise ultrasound imaging assessments for OB/GYN, musculoskeletal, abdominal, lung, cardiac, vascular and more. It is small, lightweight and wireless, connecting directly to a mobile device.
Vscan technology will also be heavily used at Centra Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency, where physician residents are trained to utilize the technology in various healthcare settings.
“Centra’s Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency is committed to providing state-of-the-art training for our Family Medicine Residents who will serve our community after graduation as board-certified family medicine physicians in primary care, urgent care and in the hospital setting,” explained Dr. Lori Nelson-Madison, Medical Director at Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency. “The recent addition of handheld ultrasound allows our program to train resident physicians to incorporate this advanced imaging into bedside patient assessments to improve physical examinations and diagnostic accuracy and aid in bedside procedures.”
Along with directly supporting Centra’s Strategic Theme of Performance Excellence, the investment in the Vscan Air technology will further standardize care across Centra and increase community access to innovative healthcare technology.
1 The device has been verified for limited use outside of professional healthcare facilities. Use is restricted to environmental properties described in the user manual.