What's New at Perry...

Perry Memorial Hospital Surgeon Offers New Procedure to Seal Diseased Leg Veins

Dr. Mark Williams, General Surgeon at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton, is now performing a procedure that treats the underlying cause of painful varicose veins. Dr. Williams will use the VNUS ClosureFAST catheter, an endovenous radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter that is designed to heat, shrink and close diseased saphenous veins (large leg veins) in approximately three minutes of radiofrequency treatment. The entire ClosureFAST procedure, from insertion of the catheter to removal, generally takes less than 20 minutes with little pain or bruising for the patient. Most patients can resume normal activities the next day. The VNUS procedure is much less invasive and an alternative to the Vein Stripping procedure.

The ClosureFAST catheter received FDA clearance in August 2006, providing a treatment alternative for the nearly 25 million Americans who have varicose veins, many of whom suffer from pain, swelling, fatigue and disfigurement. The catheter is threaded into the diseased large leg vein through a small puncture, and radiofrequency energy is transmitted to the device to heat and seal the diseased veins walls, forcing the body to re-route blood flow through healthier leg veins.

For more information call Dr. Williams’ office at 815-872-9491 or visit the VNUS website at www.vnus.com

Perry Memorial Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton is announcing the opening of Perry Memorial Orthopedic and Sports Medicine and its professional relationship with Dr. Sekhar Sompalli. Dr. Sompalli will continue to provide orthopedic services to patients from the Illinois Valley and surrounding areas exclusively at Perry Memorial Hospital. His office will be located in Suite 306 in the Medical Office Building at Perry Memorial. To schedule an appointment call 815-876-3033.

Dr. Sompalli received his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Loyola University Medical Center. He holds licenses in Illinois as well as California and his specialty is orthopedic surgery.

Perry Memorial Hospital’s Digital Diagnostic Imaging System

Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton has installed an ImageLink Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). PACS is a computer system that allows the digital capture, viewing, storage and transmission of medical images. Digital imaging and the use of computers to process radiology images were first introduced in the 1970’s. The system represents a network of computer servers and web-based work stations that are interfaced with the hospitals’ diagnostic imaging equipment such as x-ray, CT Scan, MRI, ultrasound and others. It replaces conventional x-ray film and greatly improves access to patient information by providing the ability for referring clinicians to review their patient’s images on computers at their offices or in their home.

“The installation of a PACS is a part of an overall health information strategy,” said Scott Hartman, Perry Memorial Hospital’s Director of Diagnostic Services. “Bringing digital radiography to the community is an example of our commitment to investing in advanced technologies that will have a positive impact on our quality of care and customer service”.

With the ImageLink PACS, film based images are replaced with crystal clear digital images. Once captured, the images become a part of the patient’s electronic medical record and are immediately and securely available to caregivers throughout the hospital and can be sent electronically anywhere in the world in a confidential secure system.

The new technology will not only provide diagnostic images faster, but will also create an online history of images. Historical records will no longer be dependent on a physical record that can be used by only one person at a time and film that can be misplaced, lost, or destroyed.

As the medical community increasingly goes digital, PACS opens up almost unlimited possibilities to increase patient safety and enhance efficiency. This system can enhance patient safety in several ways: first, it delivers images to the radiologist in a more time-efficient manner, allowing critical decision to be made in a more timely fashion. And because the images are stored digitally, there is no film. In the cases of repeat patients, such as cancer patients, where you want to compare new images with previous images, the system can pre-fetch related studies.

Perry Memorial Hospital’s mission is to provide compassionate, quality healthcare to the people and communities we serve. We continue to be committed in exceeding our patients and customers expectations by providing the most up-to-date advanced and high technology equipment and services.