A CT Scanner Ideal for Kids, Just Like the Hospital It’s Going in

First U.S.-installed CT scanner of its kind going in at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Omaha, NE (Nov. 18, 2016) – Parents and doctors alike know that children have unique needs—their active bodies are hard to keep still, their still-developing organs are sensitive, and some won’t go anywhere without their teddy bear or favorite pink socks. That’s exactly why the new University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City was built: to cater to the specific needs of children.

As the new hospital prepares for its grand opening in December, the radiology department is planning an unveiling of its own. A state-of-the-art, next-generation dual-source computed tomography (CT) scanner—manufactured by Siemens Healthineers and installed by Cassling, an Omaha-based equipment sales and service provider—has been installed and is undergoing calibration.

The system—a Siemens SOMATOM Drive CT scanner—is the first system of its kind installed in the United States and just the fourth worldwide, and delivery was expedited specifically for the grand opening of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The scanner will be used by physicians to help diagnose injury and illness—generating images in life-like detail to give doctors crucial diagnostic information and help identify what is happening inside a child’s body.

“Cassling and Siemens are pleased to provide the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital with this advanced CT system, which can help their clinicians deliver more precise pediatric imaging at a very low dose,” said Mike Cassling, CEO and President of Cassling. “We feel fortunate to work with a facility that is so committed to improving patient outcomes, and we’re proud to provide the hospital with local equipment service and support in combination with Siemens world-renowned imaging products.”

According to Colin P. Derdeyn, MD, FACR, Chair and Departmental Executive Officer for the University of Iowa Department of Radiology, imaging pediatric patients presents specific challenges: children are usually unable to understand breathing instructions, often there is no time for sedation, and the young age also increases dose sensitivity.

Download the Siemens SOMATOM Drive CT brochure.

“Kids’ bodies are wired for movement, from their racing minds and constant energy to their fast respiratory rate and pulse,” said Dr. Derdeyn. “We needed a CT system that could quickly and safely generate high-definition images of the heart, brain, bones and tiny blood vessels with customized parameters based on each child’s clinical needs.” 

It is believed to be one of the world’s fastest CT scanners with the lowest dosage, said Raphael Hirsch, MD, Physician-in-chief at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, and Chair of the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics. "In most cases, there’s no need for sedation or breath holding, even in infants,” Dr. Hirsch said. “Now, in the blink of an eye, our new CT scanner can capture the fastest heartbeats with less radiation exposure than traditional CTs.”

With this new system, parents can rest assured that their child will get one of the most advanced imaging exams medicine has to offer. In addition to minimal radiation dose and optimal image quality, the system’s patient-friendly design virtually eliminates claustrophobia. Mood lighting with a patient’s choice of color creates a more relaxed and patient-centered experience. Plus, new touch-screen features allow the technologist to stand closer to the child and interact with them longer, easing anxiety for parents as much as for patients.

“We’re doing everything possible in our new hospital to meet the future needs of Iowa’s children, and that trickles all the way down to a single diagnostic CT scan in the radiology department,” said Scott Turner, Executive Director, University of Iowa Children's Hospital. “Our children's hospital focuses on all aspects of care for kids and their families, because to us, the finest of details make a big difference.”

About Cassling:
Cassling is an Advanced Partner and authorized sales and service dealer for Siemens Healthineers. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Omaha, Neb, we are committed to offering comprehensive support to our customers—including world-renowned imaging equipment, 24/7 service, project management, marketing, continuing education and everything in between.

We help organizations of every size, from critical access hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers to large health systems and IDNs, to increase efficiency, decrease costs and enhance patient care. Learn more.