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When considering what new technologies and equipment to purchase, Phoenix VA’s main requirement is: will it enable our staff to provide better care to our Veterans? The new PET/CT scanner

was such a resounding yes that it was already being used to treat patients almost immediately after being certified. Phoenix VA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially begin using a new

PET/CT scanner for Veteran care at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, Oct. 28. The PET/CT is scanner combines positron emission tomography scans and an X-ray computed tomography scans to

provide images from both in one session. “Phoenix VA is proud to continue to grow and provide new systems to help our doctors deliver the best quality of care for our Veterans,” said

Medical Center Director Bryan Matthews. “Our Veterans are the reason we continue to upgrade our equipment and improve our facilities with the most cutting-edge medical tools. They deserve

nothing less.” By using this new machine, VA doctors are able to better identify cancerous formations. This reduces the time it takes to diagnose, which means treatments can begin earlier.

An added benefit for Veterans undergoing cancer treatment, is that this can detect more detail with a much lower radiation dose. “With our new PET/CT scanner, our providers can be confident

that we are delivering the best technologies available in molecular imaging for our Veterans at the Phoenix VA Health Care System,” said Dr. Ashu Sharma, Chief of Imaging Services. “This

state-of-the-art system, enables earlier detection of disease processes, including cancers leading to more effective treatment options for our patients. We are excited to offer improved

image quality while reducing scan time and radiation doses for both patients and staff.” Additionally, Sharma said the new PET/CT system significantly enhances our upcoming new theranostics

program, allowing us to accurately identify and quantify disease to better treat our Veterans. This is another step in the process to provide better care to Veterans as Phoenix VA continues

to maintain a Veteran-centered approach in all of its operations and plans for future growth and development.