Different Offerings & Convenience City-Wide

Baptist Health provides a wide range of radiology and imaging services. Baptist Medical Center South (BMCS), together with Baptist Medical Center East (BMCE) and Prattville Baptist Hospital (PBH) provides access to the latest, most technologically advanced medical imaging equipment available today.  In addition to the main hospitals, imaging facilities are available around the city for your convenience. 

The system delivers diagnostic radiology, Multi-slice CAT Scan technology (CT), Nuclear Medicine and 3D Ultrasound to provide all of the imaging needs of central Alabama. However, each facility differs. Baptist South and Baptist East both offer interventional and vascular procedures. BMCS has added to its vascular lineup the latest in filmless flat plate digital technology. BMCS and BMCE provide Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services with the latest in short-bore MRI technology. PBH offers bone densitometry studies and a wide variety of fluoroscopic exams. BMCS is also accredited by the American College Of Radiology (ACR) for its CT, MRI and Ultrasound programs. BMCE and PBH are also ACR accredited in Ultrasound – and that’s just an example. 

Carmichael Imaging Center offers the 3T MRI:  the Discovery MR750w 3.0T MRI system is complete with GEM Suite coil technology from GE Healthcare. Designed with the patient in mind, this system maximizes comfort and offers higher-resolution images that allow for more precise diagnoses.  This nearly $1.6 million investment includes the machine itself as well as the construction of the copper-shielded room in which the 3T MRI is housed. This type of investment is expected to drastically increase comfort and efficiency for our patients.

Some of the new features include a 70 cm wide bore (center), a re-designed table surface with different cushion densities to alleviate pressure points, a coil array that offers feet-first imaging for all exam types. The 3T is also equipped with “Quiet Technology” that creates a quieter environment than other MRI machines.

Breast Radiology

In addition, Baptist Health is home to the Baptist Breast Health Center (BBHC). It is a multiple-site facility with one of the largest breast health programs in the state, which provides screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound and stereotactic needle biopsy. Furthermore, triple mammography readings are available with same-day service by one of our nationally renowned radiology breast specialists. Appointments for MRIs and other imaging services are available daily until 8 p.m.

MRI Experience

In the past, a patient was required to spend a long period of time in a long, dark, claustrophobic "tunnel" and was subjected to extremely loud noises. These negatives no longer exist in our facility. We now use the MAGNETOM Espree, a comfortable, quiet, fast and top-of-the-line MRI scanner.

Designed with Patient's Comfort in Mind

The new open design of the unit reduces anxiety and claustrophobia. Feet go in first and your head remains outside. Patients will constantly see the examination room and can communicate whenever they wish throughout the short scan time.

Form Meets Function

The extra large-open Bore design is flared, giving children and elderly patients a wide-open view that allows them to feel safe and relaxed. They can also have constant eye contact with those present. This new design can accommodate patients up to 440 pounds. The accessibility, flexibility and comfort make this unit a completely new MRI experience.

Innovative CT

Our Siemens SOMATOM® Sensation CT (computed tomography) scanner allows the routine use of high-performance Multi-slice CT. It provides extended views of anatomical areas while producing images with higher details, which is key in clinical applications such as early tumor detection. In addition, it also features clinical applications targeted at the diagnosis of specific regions of interest. The following provides a brief overview of those clinical applications:

• Highly detailed imaging with very short breath-hold requirements using Multi-slice CT. Misregistration due to motion is virtually eliminated. This is especially important in trauma and pediatric examinations. Vasculature evaluation of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and extremities using CT Angiography. This provides an accurate picture of blood flow through the vessels in a fast, minimally invasive way.
• Evaluation of osteopathic and traumatic alterations of the bone surface using 3-dimensional imaging. The clear view of the bone structure in 3D allows a fast and accurate assessment of the alterations that have taken place.

See the table below for all of the offerings at all of our different, convenient imaging facilities.