PHOTO BY ALYCIA HOOPER Danny Davis, a radiology technician at Rollins Brook Community Hospital, demonstrates the features of the health-care facility’s newest acquisition -- a 16-slice computed tomography scanner. Residents who previously had to travel to Metroplex Hospital in Killeen now are able to have tests done in Lampasas. Driving to Killeen’s Metroplex Hospital may not be necessary for some Lampasas residents who must undergo CT scan imaging.

Thanks to a new piece of machinery -- a Toshiba Aquillion 16-slice computed tomography scanner -- Rollins Brook Community Hospital in Lampasas now has the capabilities, through state-of-the-art equipment, to scan 99.5 percent of the body, said Dr. Frederick Barnett, chief of staff at Metroplex Health System.

“We are capable of doing what we did before, but better and more efficiently,” said Barnett of the new scanner.

“The new imaging -- 3D -- is important for looking at blood clots and vessels and injuries to bony structures. It will give us more of a realistic look in multiple dimensions.”

Said Barnett: “Lampasas County and surrounding areas are growing, and the number of people Rollins Brook serves has increased, and with that is an in- crease of complexity in health care issues.”

The doctor said the new CT scanner will have a direct impact on the population. “If you have someone with a serious illness or injury, a delay to send them out [to another facility] could have an impact on the outcome of their treatment.”

He also noted that a more effective scanner can detect smaller blood clots, and that can be a major issue when dealing with what could be a life-threatening condition.

Making a quick diagnosis at the Lampasas hospital allows physicians to treat illnesses and injuries before complications develop.

Barnett said Rollins Brook averages eight to 15 CT scans per day. “But that will change because we can do a lot more scans here,” said the physician.

The new scanner cost $450,000, and Barnett believes it is a bargain when balanced with the returns a patient receives. “Having this here enhances the quality of care we provide at the hospital. The earlier we detect and diagnose, the better chance we have of curing and caring for someone.”

Barnett said anything done in a health care system should be done at least at the level of standard health care, if not better. “This scanner allows us to further reach our goals.”

The new scanner, which can scan from head to toe in 20 seconds, is the standard for the majority of hospitals in the country, he said.

And because the system is computerized, an X-ray technician doesn’t need to be physically on site to read scans and make a diagnosis. “This allows radiological coverage 24-7 for Rollins Brook.

“We can get a lot more data in a shorter period of time, and we can make easier and more accurate diagnoses.

“This CT scanner has revolutionized the way we get in there and treat disease.”

Barnett said the equipment is a major addition to Rollins Brook’s imaging repertoire.

“We were doing a good job before, but now we are able to take it to the next level,” said the physician.

“From the ultrasound to the CT scanner, Lampasas and the surrounding communities are fortunate for a hospital our size to have this state-of-the-art equipment on hand.

“You don’t have to be the biggest to be the best. And we have the best equipment here. I am very proud of what we have.”