For residents of Greater Nebraska, access to advanced medical technology has taken a significant leap forward. Great Plains Health in North Platte is proud to announce the installation of a state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (PET) scanner at their Diagnostic Imaging center. This Biograph Vision PET/CT system from Siemens Healthineers represents the latest advancements in medical imaging, now available close to home.
Aerial view of Great Plains Health campus in North Platte, Nebraska, highlighting the advanced healthcare services available in the region.
The arrival of this sophisticated PET scanner underscores Great Plains Health’s commitment to providing cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options within the region. PET scans are an invaluable tool, particularly in oncology, offering detailed insights into the body’s functions at a cellular level. These scans are instrumental in the diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of cancer, providing crucial information for effective treatment planning.
Dr. Todd E. Hlavaty, a radiation oncologist and medical director of the Callahan Cancer Center, emphasizes the critical role of PET scans in modern cancer care. “When a patient is diagnosed with cancer,” Dr. Hlavaty explains, “understanding the extent of the disease and whether it has spread is paramount. The PET scanner is indispensable in answering these critical questions, directly impacting treatment strategies and patient outcomes.”
Beyond its vital role in cancer management, PET/CT scanning extends its diagnostic capabilities to a range of other medical conditions. It is highly effective in evaluating cardiac issues, neurological disorders, and central nervous system conditions. This includes aiding in the assessment of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, head trauma, and unexplained depression, offering a comprehensive diagnostic approach for complex medical challenges.
Dr. Ladd Lake, a radiologist with Innovative Imaging, PC, further highlights the benefits for patients. “This advanced PET technology allows for earlier and more accurate cancer detection, including the identification of distant metastasis at earlier stages,” Dr. Lake states. “The system is designed with patient comfort and safety in mind, while delivering exceptional image quality and resolution, leading to more confident diagnoses.”
Great Plains Health already conducts over 600 PET scans annually, demonstrating the existing demand for this crucial service within the community. The acquisition of this new, advanced scanner will significantly enhance their capacity and capabilities in diagnostic imaging.
This significant healthcare advancement was made possible in part by the generous contributions from the Great Plains Health Care Foundation. Donors contributed an impressive $500,000 towards this project during fundraising campaigns in 2020 and 2021, reflecting the community’s dedication to bringing advanced healthcare services to rural Nebraska.
Megan McGown, chief development officer at Great Plains Health and director of the Great Plains Health Care Foundation, highlights the impact of community support. “We firmly believe that individuals in rural Nebraska deserve access to the highest quality healthcare,” McGown states. “This PET scanner is truly life-changing for patients and their families, and we are proud to offer this advanced technology right here, close to home, thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors.”
About Great Plains Health
Located in North Platte, Nebraska, Great Plains Health is a comprehensive regional medical center with 116 beds, serving a vast area encompassing western and central Nebraska, northern Kansas, and southern South Dakota. The medical system includes 90 physicians across nearly 30 specialties, providing advanced medical services such as heart and vascular care, oncology, and orthopedic surgery. Designated as a Level III trauma center, Great Plains Health ensures expert emergency care with residency-trained and board-certified emergency physicians. With approximately 1,200 employees, Great Plains Health serves a 67,000-square-mile region. Accredited by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ), the hospital is also recognized as an American College of Surgeons-accredited cancer center and a Level II bariatric surgery program. For more information, please visit gphealth.org.
Contact: Mary Roberts
