Bridges Invests in State of the Art Equipment Upgrade

To keep pace with a steadily growing demand for outpatient surgical procedures, Bridges Medical Center in Ada has invested in new, state of the art equipment, for colonoscopies and EGDs.

“Our old system served us well for the past eight years,” said Surgical Services Manager, Kristi Slette, RN, “but there have been a lot of advances in those years.  With the growth we are seeing, it was a good time for us to upgrade.”

 The new Olympus system is the most advanced technology available and was only recently released.  “We are one of only two facilities in Minnesota to have this equipment today,” Surgical Services RN, Steve Spaeth remarked on the first day the new unit was put into service.  “I think it’s important that people realize that this kind of technology isn’t limited to the hospitals in the big cities.  It’s available right here in their backyard.”

Two colonoscopes and one EGD scope are used to examine different portions of the gastric system for signs of cancer or other disorders, an important screening and diagnostic procedure, which has received much attention by medical organizations and in the media, in recent years.

 Two scopes, and a new, much faster sterilization process, will decrease waiting time between procedures while advances in technology and improvements in design make the exams shorter and more comfortable for the patient. “In the past, because of the limitations of the scope, a patient would have to undergo additional testing to complete the exam,” said Slette.  “Since the new system arrived, that hasn’t happened.”

Outpatient surgery has grown so rapidly at Bridges, that extra days have been added to the surgical schedule, but even the additional days fill up fast.  More referrals from medical providers and an increased public awareness of the need for screenings have kept demand high. Spaeth concluded, “People are better educated about their health than ever before.  They know what they need and we want to provide them with the best that is available.”