Whether your symptoms consist of severe pain, a nagging ache, or you just don't feel quite right, an accurate diagnosis often depends on an imaging procedure. You don't have to travel to receive quality diagnostic care. From traditional x-rays to MRIs and nuclear medicine, we're fully equipped to meet all your needs.

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital proudly maintains an Imaging Department that has more than advanced technology…it has proficient technicians that try to never lose site of the patient's comfort and peace of mind. Experience is the key to quality diagnostic results and that is something you can count on: we perform more than 25,000 diagnostic studies each year. As your regional hospital, we're dedicated to maintaining a progressive imaging department—including nuclear medicine—so skilled diagnostic healthcare is available close to home.

Women over 40 may schedule a digital mammography without a referral. Please go to the Women's Imaging Center web page for more information, or call 828-766-1630 to schedule an appointment.

All other imaging procedures need a physician's referral. To schedule an appointment, or if you need help with a referral, call 828-766-1630.

Imaging Procedures
The Imaging Department is nationally accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for MRI, ultrasound, mammography and echocardiography. Our procedures, images, equipment, personnel and quality control procedures are evaluated and approved by the ACR to ensure patients receive quality services.

In addition to traditional x-rays, we're equipped to deliver many of the same procedures available at larger hospitals. Diagnostic services at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital include:

• CT scan – Computed tomography (CT), or CAT scan, creates a 3-dimensional image of organs, tissues, bones, muscles and tumors.
  
• MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging uses a high-powered magnet to create images of organs and structures inside the body, including the brain.
  
• Ultrasound – Uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize internal structures such as the heart, blood vessels, liver, gallbladder and other organs.
  
• Digital Mammography – Advanced technology for detecting breast cancer
  
• Bone density – X-rays determine the amount of minerals in the bones.
  
• Echocardiogram – Sound waves provide information about the size, shape and functioning of your heart.
  
• Fluoroscopy – Continuous, real-time x-ray displays movement of a body part; also used to direct the placement of a catheter during angioplasty or angiography.

Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine uses small and safe amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. These specialized procedures target a specific organ or tissue to create an image of the disease process. Nuclear medicine allows earlier identification of conditions such as cancer and heart disease, and allows doctors to see the extent of the disease.

Advanced Nuclear Capabilities
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital brings progressive nuclear medicine to the tri-county area with the GE Infinia™ system. In addition to comprehensive nuclear imaging, it uses advanced cardiac software that allows rapid and detailed evaluation of cardiac function. This system expands our capabilities with more procedures and accommodates patients up to 440 lbs.

The nuclear medicine camera offers a variety of diagnostic studies, including:

• Cardiac stress test
  
• Bone scans – full body and three phase
  
• SPECT scan for stress fractures of the spine
  
• Thyroid uptake and scan
  
• HIDA scans of liver and gallbladder
  
• VCUG – voiding cystourethrogram for the urinary tract
  
• Renal scan
  
• GI bleeding
  
• Lung ventilation
  
• Gastric emptying
  
• White blood cell study
  
• Gallium scan to detect tumors, inflammation and infection
• Meckel's study of the bowel

Women's Imaging Center
A private space dedicated to women's health concerns, the Women's Imaging Center at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital offers quality results in a compassionate environment. Relax and rely on the individualized attention you'll receive here. Specialized diagnostic procedures in the Women's Imaging Center include digital mammography and bone density screening.

For more information, follow the link to our Women's Imaging Center web page, or call 828-766-1630.

Our Team
The certified professionals in the Imaging Department are experienced with advanced imaging techniques and put their commitment into action by participating in the community at local health fairs and schools.

Appointments and Information
Women over the age of 40 may schedule a digital mammography without a referral. However, all other services in the Imaging Department require a physician's referral. To schedule an appointment, please call 828-766-1630.

Imaging Department
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
125 Hospital Dr.
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Preparing for Your Appointment
The Imaging Department at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital offers a wide range of studies, many of which require that you follow specific instructions to ensure that the test can be performed during your scheduled appointment. Brochures with preparation instructions are available in physician's offices and at the Imaging Department. Please be sure to ask your physician, or call us, if you have any questions.

• Many procedures require you to stop eating and/or drinking at midnight on the night prior to your test. Please talk to your physician or call the Imaging Department for detailed information about your procedure.
  
• No vitamins or minerals should be taken if you're scheduled for a bone density test.
  
• Colonoscopies, CT scans of the abdomen or pelvis, barium enemas, cystograms, biopsies and many nuclear medicine procedures require a special preparation kit that's available from the Imaging Department.
  
• Ultrasounds of the pelvis and nuclear medicine renal scans require a full bladder.