Friday morning, Westfield Memorial Hospital unveiled its newly remodeled and upgraded Radiology Department. The space was fully renovated to include state of the art imaging technology. Representatives from various levels of the Allegheny Health Network were on hand to witness the reveal of the hospital’s newest wing.

Dr. Chris Clark, President of Westfield Memorial Hospital, called the commitment from Allegheny Health Network “a significant investment in improving the facility, the imaging equipment, and the access to imaging services.” The equipment and upgrades to establish the radiology department totaled $3.4 million.

“We’re really excited about this investment,” Clark said.

Rodney Buchanan, Westfield Memorial Hospital Administrator, said of the hospital’s commitment to the patients of western New York, “It proves that we’re here and it proves that we care about them.”

Pictured is Westfield Memorial Hospital’s new Hologic Comfort Clarity HD High-Resolution 3D Mammography system used to screen for breast cancer.

Joining Clark and Buchanan for the ribbon cutting ceremony was Russell Elwell, MD; Kathryn Bronstein, Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation President; Helen Baran, Chairperson of the Westfield Memorial Hospital Board of Directors; and Russell Sneed, Regional Administrator.

The new Radiology Department is now fully capable of handling basic interventional radiology procedures, such as paracentesis or implantations of ports for chemotherapy and chronic infusions.

“You can put that line in here now in Westfield, when before, we had to send you somewhere else to have that line put in,” Buchanan said.

The enhanced imaging equipment can also help with emergency diagnoses, such as a collapsed lung, or in identifying cardiac stress.

“We can see that a lot easier now with our upgraded equipment,” Buchanan said.

Pictured is Westfield Memorial Hospital’s new C-Arm machine, a portable imaging machine that the hospital will move from room to room to provide high quality images with increased flexibility and ideal dosages for each patient. The machine was funded by the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Among the new pieces of equipment featured at Westfield Memorial Hospital is a Radiography and Fluoroscopy Imaging System, which provides high quality, dynamic, real-time X-ray and fluoroscopy images; an additional Impact X-ray System; an Excel Gamma Camera to inject patients with radioactive material to evaluate organ function and detect cancer; and a Bone Densitometer to help diagnose osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Another piece of equipment, referred to as a C-Arm machine, was specifically funded by the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation. The C-Arm machine is a portable imaging machine that the hospital will move from room to room to provide high quality images with increased flexibility and ideal dosages for each patient.

“With the older equipment, pictures aren’t as clear, but with the newer equipment, it’s all digitalized. It makes it a lot easier to see, and makes it easier to diagnose different conditions. You can identify things faster,” Buchanan said.

The Department also features a high-resolution 3D mammography system, including the SmartCurve breast stabilization system, which is designed to minimize discomfort for patients without compromising breast imaging quality, workflow, or dose.

“We know how important screening for cancer is. The earlier you diagnose a cancer, the better the outcome can be,” Clark said. “For female patients in particular with the need for getting screening for breast cancer, we have the latest mammography equipment here – 3D technology – that they can get their screening procedures here and don’t have to go to other communities.”

Pictured is Westfield Memorial Hospital’s new Siemens Symbia EVO Excel Gamma Camera, which helps radiologists evaluate organ function and potentially detect cancer.

Westfield Memorial Hospital has been a fixture in the village of Westfield for more than 75 years. Plans to establish the radiology suite began in 2022, with funding provided through AHN’s parent company, Highmark Health.

The Allegheny Health Network consists of 14 hospitals spanning mostly through Pennsylvania, with Westfield as the only location in the state of New York. As part of a network of hospitals, Westfield Memorial Hospital is able to easily transfer patients to other hospitals with images crossing over the same network.

“It makes it easier for their providers, their techs to treat based off the image they got here. You don’t have to repeat a lot of stuff,” Buchanan said. “That interconnectivity is very important, as well. It’s an advantage of being part of the network, but also having the advanced imaging capabilities here in Westfield.”

Clark said the investment is “right in line” with Highmark Health’s commitment to delivering care to patients close to home.

“This imaging project and the improvements in the imaging services is a great example of that,” Clark said. “Patients don’t have to travel far distances in order to get even basic things.”

Buchanan added, “Our goal is to help people get the right diagnosis and the right care as quickly and conveniently as possible. This new imaging center will help us meet that standard for the many patients who rely on us.”