CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS OPENS NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART IMAGING CENTER, ADVANCING PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE FOR LOUISIANA AND THE GULF SOUTH

The new, 17,500 square foot Imaging Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans supports growth of specialized pediatric imaging and radiology services in an innovative environment designed only for kids, as part of Children’s $300 million campus expansion effort.

NEW ORLEANS – This month, Children’s Hospital New Orleans celebrated the opening of its new Imaging Center, serving patients from across Louisiana in a fully comprehensive space equipped with the latest imaging technology, in a kid-friendly environment that amplifies the patient experience.

“Our investments in infrastructure and technology along with the unmatched expertise of our pediatric trained radiologists, nurses, technologists and staff are distinct and impactful for the state of Louisiana,” said John R. Nickens IV, President and Chief Executive Office at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “The innovative imaging technology further enhances our ability to provide expert care, in a calming environment that is designed only for kids. This is how we are Extraordinary Together for the children and families of Louisiana.”

The new center includes two new, state-of-the-art GE Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs), one 3 Tesla and one 1.5 Tesla, with the strength of the magnet and corresponding image resolution being the difference between the two. Both MRIs are part of an Adventure Series developed in partnership with GE that features custom travel-related themes, taking kids around the world and on outer space adventures as they undergo imaging tests.

Children’s Hospital has also added a new Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT) to better serve patients on campus. The PET/CT takes kids on a pirate adventure, intended to remove some of the fear and anxiety that can come with the imaging process.

“The innovative themes for the new equipment were selected by asking our own patients what they’d like to experience,” says Lindsey Casey, RN, Assistant Vice President of Hospital Operations. “The noise in an MRI can be loud and scary for children. We’re focused on catering everything to the child and removing some of that fear and anxiety by replacing it with fun.”

The Adventure Series continues in the space that houses a new, advanced GE Computed Tomography (CT) machine, along with a whimsical New Orleans theme. Children’s Nuclear Medicine team has also relocated to the new Imaging Center, now located in a fantasy castle-themed space.

The new Imaging Center features four new X Ray/Flouroscopy rooms, compared to the previous three, that connect to a spacious and bright Radiology Technologist workspace, creating an optimal work environment. Each room also includes an adjoining dressing room, improving privacy and overall experience for patients and families. The two spacious ultrasound rooms in the new center were also designed with experience in mind, featuring private bathrooms and a spacious and soothing environment.

“Equipped with the latest technology and designed specifically for children, our Imaging Center is further complimented by our team of pediatric-trained radiologists,” says George Bisset III, MD, Radiologist and Chief Medical Officer for Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “It is important to choose a children’s hospital because kids aren’t just little adults. Our pediatric experts are trained on scrutinizing growth plates in children, for example, an area where general radiologists have little training.”

Workspace for team members is also vastly improved in the new center, including a new, expanded radiologist reading room with expanded footprint and dedicated space for each radiologist. The center also features dedicated multipurpose space for education, consultation and collaboration.

“The Imaging Center at Children’s Hospital combines top experts in pediatric radiology with advanced technology to provide precise and safe imaging for our patients, in an environment that is child friendly at every level,” says Kenneth Ward, MD, Service Line Chief for Radiology at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “We now have a space that amplifies the breadth of experience offered by our radiology team.”