The Roanoker - January/February 2017 - VL30

obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, primary care and behavioral health. The medical center is also home to the region's only
real-world inpatient rehabilitation center.

Q. Why should patients trust LewisGale with their
care?
A: LewisGale Regional Health System is recognized regionally
and nationally for its unsurpassed commitment to quality outcomes and providing safe, effective, timely care.
The health system is also the region's leader in emergency
care, with its commitment to offer significantly lower ER wait
times than the national average and other local providers. Lower
wait times are associated with lower risks for hospital admissions,
improved health effects and increased patient satisfaction.
The network is the first and only in the region to be equipped
with fully-accredited Chest Pain Centers at all of its hospitals.
LewisGale Medical Center is also certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center.
In its most recent rankings, Healthgrades®, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians
and hospitals, named LewisGale Medical Center among the top
10 percent in the nation for overall orthopedic services for two
years in a row.
In addition, for several consecutive years, LewisGale Medical
Center has been ranked in the top 10 percent nationally by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for providing recommended treatments for certain conditions and procedures,
including surgery, heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia.
LewisGale Medical Center has also consistently earned top
scores for patient safety from Leapfrog, a nonprofit hospital safety
watchdog. The scores are based on how well hospitals protect
patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections.

Q. What are recent investments in new
technology and LewisGale Regional Cancer
Center?
A: In June of 2016, a multiphase $15.5 million new technology
and construction project was completed including $6.5 million
in new radiation therapy technology and renovations throughout the cancer center. Patients and visitors now enter the cancer
center through an expansive canopy that leads them into a spacious, welcoming reception area. Also included is a $6 million
two-story medical office building. The additional space and renovations not only enhance the patient experience but will allow
the cancer center to meet the growing demands for cancer services in the region.
The addition of new technology includes a new Varian TrueBeam Accelerator, $2 million da Vinci Xi Surgical System which
is the only one of its kind in Southwest Virginia, and a $1 million
3D Mammography Unit. Each piece of technology improves the
ability to treat cancers faster and more precisely.
The Varian TrueBeam Accelerator increases the capability and
capacity to treat patients in need of radiation therapy. Not only
30 | 2017 VALLEY LIFE MAGAZINE

does it reduce patient treatment times, it delivers powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy by integrating new imaging and motion-management technologies. The system delivers
many forms of radiotherapy treatment, including image-guided
radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
and RapidArc® radiotherapy technology.
The da Vinci Xi Surgical System has broader capabilities than
prior generations of the da Vinci System. It is used across a wide
spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures and has
been optimized for complex, multi-quadrant surgeries, as often
required in cancer patients.
The Genius 3D Mammography detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers and reduces false positives by up to 40 percent
compared to traditional 2D images. The low-dose technology
also reduces the need for extra digital images and is particularly
effective for women with dense breast tissue.
A new treatment planning system has also been added with
upgraded quality assurance tools for enhanced monitoring and
quality checks. The system, which can be accessed by physicians
and technologists at both LewisGale Cancer Centers in Salem and
Pulaski, provides the most seamless and effective treatment options available in our region to patients.

Carilion Clinic
The Roanoke Valley is an area known for its vast outdoor amenities, bustling urban scene at the base of
Mill Mountain and rich cultural heritage. Such a diverse region necessitates a health care system that
can keep up with its medical needs and partner with its
communities to foster values of health and wellness.
As the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center and innovative provider in more than 70 medical specialties, Carilion Clinic strives to be that organization.
For newcomers to the valley, one of the most important steps to get plugged into the community
is finding the right health care team to serve your
family. Check out the questions below and learn
about how you can begin your health care journey.

Q: I just moved to the Roanoke area. Now what?
A: There are many access points to care, but it is important
to have someone that you are established with who can understand your medical history, the details of your family history and
be familiar with you.
Each individual should have a primary care physician. They
can serve as the person to help you navigate through what, nationwide, is a very complex health care system. In addition to
standard wellness check-ups, they work with patients to refer
necessary specialists and medical services.
For those moving to the Valley with a young family in tow,
Carilion Children's is an excellent resource for pediatricians. It is

The Roanoker - January/February 2017

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