Like so many other discoveries, x-rays were an accident. But Wilhelm Roentgen’s serendipitous find would revolutionize diagnostics, cancer treatment, and even heavy industry in the century ahead. The rise of radioisotopes coincided with a better understanding of the dangers of ionizing radiation, bringing a demand for shielding to protect radiographers and patients alike. And one of the oldest tools in the profession — lead — remains one of the best. Why is lead and radiation shielding so important, and why is lead a good radiation shield in Detroit medical practices? Coastal Medical Imaging has answers.

How X-Rays Work

The initial discovery of x-rays was an accidental side effect of experiments on cathode ray tubes similar to those found for many years in televisions and computer monitors. These tubes give off low levels of radiation that could, in turn, be combined with a capture medium to provide images as that radiation penetrates soft tissue.

X-rays became more powerful when radioisotopes like technetium, cobalt, and radium, with their higher energy and greater penetrative ability, came into common use. Although these isotopes would broaden the uses and accuracy of x-rays, they’re just as capable of harming as helping, as many early researchers found out the hard way after suffering injuries or succumbing to cancer and other illnesses.

Harmful Side Effects of Radiation Exposure

Ionizing radiation of the type used for x-rays has a wide variety of adverse health effects, some of which can take place at the level of an individual’s DNA. These effects can be seen after a single high-dose event, or may build up over time with repeated low-level exposure. Among them are:

• Skin burns
• Acute radiation exposure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Risk of infertility and birth defects
• Developmental delays and cell damage for younger patients

As the EPA points out, our bodies can repair some of this damage in the event of limited exposure (e.g., the dose delivered by a diagnostic x-ray), but the higher or more frequent the dose, the more difficult that becomes. That’s why shielding is extremely important for x-ray technicians and patients alike.

How Does Lead Shield Radiation?

Another EPA resource points to three important factors for x-ray safety.

• Distance: If you’re a fair distance from a flame, you won’t feel its heat the same as you would if you were in close proximity. Ionizing radiation also has a limited “range” relative to its source, but of course a diagnostician can’t rely on distance while taking x-rays.
• Time: This is the easiest variable to control with regard to exposure; experience, accuracy, and proper technique so that you’re getting the right diagnostic image on the first try means fewer retakes and lower exposure for patients and technicians alike.
• Shielding: Concrete, earthen barriers, water, or a thin layer of metal can stop alpha and beta particles, and if the barrier is sufficient these same materials can inhibit or stop gamma radiation and x-rays as well. That’s fine if you’re building a bomb shelter in your basement, but it’s hardly practical for a clinical setting.

Lead makes an excellent shield because of its high density. That allows a relatively small amount of lead to stop errant x-rays and other types of radiation dead in its tracks. It’s also far more practical, since it can be fashioned into a lead apron, or the types of lead shielding we install in doctors’ offices (including shielding for portable x-ray equipment and for stationary enclosures) is much more effective than the alternatives. Among our solutions:

• Lead glass utilized for viewing
• Stationary or mobile barriers to stand behind
• Lead curtains for temporary partitions
• Lead walls for permanent x-ray rooms

Of course, an effective shielding design goes deeper than simply protecting against background radiation. It needs to integrate into your practice, helping your staff and patients without hindering workflow. That’s why our lead shielding installations are just one facet of a comprehensive approach to system design that delivers the medical imaging equipment you need, but also the means to use it safely and effectively. For shielding that exceeds standards and expectations alike, get in touch with Coastal Medical Imaging.

Coastal Medical Imaging serves the needs of a diverse range of medical practices when it’s time for medical equipment supplies near Detroit. More than 25 years’ experience has taught us that our clients’ practices are as diverse and unique as the patients they serve, calling for a high degree of customization that serves your needs and theirs alike. We are dedicated to helping you figure out what you need, then giving you the tools and services to achieve it.

Medical Imaging Solutions

Technicians’ lives would no doubt be easier if one imaging machine could cover every need. But you, and we, know that isn’t the case. That’s why we offer custom digital imaging systems that provide high resolution and plenty of control over what you see. From digital combinations to C-Arm devices, we partner with you to design and medical equipment installations tailored to your practice and your needs.

• Medical imaging equipment
• Chiropractic imaging equipment
• Podiatry imaging equipment
• Veterinary imaging equipment
• Mobile imaging equipment
• Ultrasound imaging equipment

Chiropractic Tables and Equipment

Today’s chiropractic care combines high-touch with high-tech. The chiropractic table remains the backbone of your practice, but we know many chiropractors’ treatment modalities are broader and more creative. That’s why we offer a wide range of both new and used chiropractic tables and equipment, ensuring you can find the best fit for your practice.

As with our imaging solutions, we go the extra mile for chiropractors as well. You can reupholster a chiropractic table to refresh it and give it a new lease on life, or even add custom embroidery that brings a personal touch to your practice. That attention to detail — ours and yours alike — helps to ensure patient loyalty.

The Advantage to Custom Equipment and Medical Supplies

Custom medical equipment and medical supplies are the backbone of any new practice or medical office renovation. Among the advantages you’ll realize:

• Improved accuracy and image quality means less need for retakes
• Mobile solutions enable you to do more in smaller or constrained spaces
• Custom shielding keeps technicians and staff safe
• Layouts customized to your space ensure smooth workflow
• Improved workflow, in turn, creates efficiency that improves patient experience and outcomes

Ongoing Support from Coastal Medical Imaging

More than sales and installation, Coastal Medical Imaging is home to an experienced group of technicians who support your custom medical equipment when you need it. Our familiarity with different product lines lets us fix the problem quickly and correctly.

We offer repairs for custom medical equipment solutions and tables. Equally important, we provide preventative maintenance services that stave off future problems.

Remote access allows our IT specialists to log in and troubleshoot problems  without visiting your office. We can solve almost any issue without taking up space and valuable time with on-site visits.

Running a medical practice, regardless of your specialty, should never feel like trying to do more with less. It’s about finding the right equipment and supplies to leverage all you’ve learned from a lifetime of care. To find out more about what our custom medical equipment solutions can bring to your office, contact Coastal Medical Imaging and one of our knowledgeable sales representatives will be in touch for a consultation.

Originally developed to detect flaws and damage in ship hulls, ultrasound was first used as a diagnostic tool by an obstetrician in Glasgow in 1956. That same year, the first artificial intelligence (AI) symposium convened at Dartmouth College. It may have taken some time, but these seemingly unrelated developments are finally converging with the first AI-enabled clinical ultrasound technology. Called Caption AI, it’s nothing less than a quantum leap forward in ultrasound equipment. Here, we answer some of the questions surrounding it.

How Does it Work?

Caption AI is a product of medical AI company Caption Health. It’s a subscription-based AI software that combines guidance in real time, automated quality assurance, and also enhanced imaging interpretation when used with compatible ultrasound hardware.

Is It Safe?

In a word, yes. Caption AI was subjected to clinical trials at Minneapolis Heart Institute at Alina Health as well as Northwestern Medicine. Peer-reviewed results are forthcoming, but in the meantime, it’s interesting to note that the users in these trials weren’t even ultrasound technicians; they were registered nurses, and the system was still able to return effective results.

What Are the Benefits of AI in Ultrasound?

Because of its speed and accuracy in image acquisition, Caption AI is expected to be uniquely suited for critical care units and emergency rooms. It’s capable of use in any setting that currently takes advantage of ultrasound, from cardiology to obstetrics. And from triage to diagnostics and treatment, the software should also help both to standardize and to improve patient care as well.

What Does the FDA Say?

Caption AI’s software — including its automated interpretation capabilities — is FDA-cleared for adult patients.

When Will This Be Available?

Caption AI pre-orders are currently open, and the first deliveries to accredited healthcare providers are expected to take place in Q3 2020.

Why AI Matters for Ultrasound

In an editorial that ran in last year’s issue of Health Management, Dr. Ian A. Weissman examined the role of AI in healthcare. Was it help, or hype? Dr. Weissman came down in the former camp, taking note of the tension between value-based and volume-based medicine and noting:

The days of having time to be able to review the patients’ chart, compare old films, speak to the referring physician when necessary, communicate critical findings to the patient in a timely fashion, and be available to answer questions are falling away with the increasing complexity of imaging, and the multifactorial workload challenges.

In other words, AI isn’t just about accuracy; it’s also about time, namely carving enough of it out of one’s day to alleviate some of the stress on key economic performance metrics. Because of the speed, accuracy, and diagnostic assistance it affords, AI has an important role to play in bringing the human element back into the equation for imaging technicians, the doctors with whom they work, and the patients they serve.

At Coastal Medical Imaging, we’re encouraged by any development that increases efficiency while improving patient outcomes. Even at this early date, it’s apparent that Caption AI is a game-changer whose benefits will only grow as it gains traction in daily use. To find out more about this and other healthcare supplies and equipment, contact us today.

However, we’re also well aware that the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” is amply apparent in your chiropractic office. Of all the medical equipment in your examination room, few things—save for the chiropractor’s experience and care—are as important as a high-quality chiropractic table.

Width and Firmness

Firm cushions offer support and make moving patients much easier. With that said, some patients prefer the feel of softer cushions. With a bit of research, it’s possible to find a happy medium that keeps you and your patients happy. Table width is also a consideration, since a table that’s too narrow will leave a patient feeling unsupported and prone to moving around to find a more comfortable position; that, in turn, can aggravate muscle pain and pinched nerves, making your job more difficult. Choose wisely!

Vertical Lift

Just as patients come in all shapes and sizes, so too do doctors of chiropractic. A chiropractic table with vertical lift capability always ensures an optimal adjustment height regardless of the size of either the chiropractor or their patient. This ensures that whether you’re conducting a cervical adjustment, a side posture adjustment, guiding a patient through a hamstring stretch, or ensuring they can dismount the table easily, the perfect height is easy to dial in.

Drop Features

Drop tables allow for gentler adjustments, which is helpful if you have a patient in extreme pain, or a pregnant patient who needs a pelvic adjustment. A drop table will offer either manual or automatic drops. A manual drop table will be less expensive, but will require a bit of finesse to adjust the drop depth. Automatic drops can be set and reset quickly at the press of a button or a quick tap of a foot switch, saving time and preventing strain injuries to the chiropractor.

Traction

Traction features allow for decompression to treat challenging joint and disc conditions. Flexion (including lateral flexion), rotation, and extension won’t always be necessary, but it’s vital to have these functions on call for the patients who need them.

Portability

Portable chiropractic tables come in a number of configurations, and may be worth considering for some practices. If you’ve ever wanted to bring your healing touch to patients who couldn’t visit you in your office or to set up shop at a pop-up health clinic where volunteer doctors serve disadvantaged communities, portable tables are an excellent fit even if they lack some of the complex features found in stationary tables.

Sourcing Medical Equipment in Michigan

These features make a difference for chiropractors, but they also improve patient outcomes. They’re not a replacement for your education and experience, but they do help you put both to their best use, which in the end is the best argument to err on the side of more and better features. Coastal Medical Imaging will account for your unique approach to your patients, then match you to the proper equipment that aligns with your needs and values. There’s an old saying that reminds us, “People may not remember what you said, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.” Your patients may not remember to heed every bit of advice you give them, from proper stretching to ample hydration, taking quality supplements, exercising, or quitting smoking. But when you solve their problems — restoring function, increasing mobility, alleviating pain, and improving their quality of life — they’ll remember that, and when a friend or family member is experiencing difficulties, you can bet your name will be top of mind. How can Coastal Medical Imaging help you? Call us today to find out!

The anterior cruciate ligament is 1 of 4 ligaments in your knee. When it’s over-stretched, or if it tears, the resultant injury can be excruciatingly painful. Although women are statistically more likely to suffer an ACL injury, they can happen to anyone at practically any time; as more kids take up organized sports, and as seniors stay active well into their golden years, ACL tears are becoming common across a wide range of demographics. As Dr. Andrew Cosgarea of Johns Hopkins found over years of practice, the old approach of age-based treatment was falling short in serving this increasingly diverse population; his experience, and that of a growing number of orthopedists, suggests that treatment should be individualized to the patient, whether it’s surgery or a more conservative approach combining modalities like physical therapy and orthopedic equipment.

Step One: The Diagnosis

ACL tear diagnosis should, of course, be done as soon as possible after the injury occurs. While a Lachman test is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, a follow-up via MRI is often common, or may be requested by the patient’s insurance company as a confirmation. Diagnostic criteria are consistent regardless of the patient’s age, gender, or medical history. However, once we move from diagnosis to treatment, we begin to see some changes emerge.

Step Two: Approaches to Treatment

Until fairly recently, the approach to treating an ACL tear was based on the patient’s age. The emerging treatment model still accounts for age, but shifts focus to the patient’s activity levels and desired outcomes. Even though the steps taken are similar in their broad strokes, patient history and needs will often dictate shifts in emphasis when choosing treatments and carrying out long-term care. 

The reason for an individualized approach is simple. The needs of a teenager who’d like to get back to her soccer team as soon as possible will be different than those of a woman with kids, which will in turn be different from those of a senior citizen concerned with getting groceries to her second-floor walkup. And each of them will have different needs and expectations than a man in his early sixties who’d like to get back to his morning walks around the neighborhood, but who won’t be competing in the high jump any time soon.

So what treatments are available?

More conservative approaches, like a knee brace, physical therapy, or occupational therapy will be fine for individuals who are only concerned with basic day-to-day activities like walking, cleaning, and laundry, and are tolerated reasonably well by many individuals. Surgical procedures are called for when activity levels and concomitant strain placed on the knee are higher. An autograft, which replaces the ACL with tendons from the hamstring or patella, helps in this regard. However, if those methods don’t bring relief — or if a prior ACL surgery has failed — an allograft may be called for instead.

A Thought in Closing

The treatment modalities outlined above don’t always break down as cleanly as we’ve listed them. Indeed, it’s far more common to progress through the steps, or for different treatment modalities to support and reinforce one another. For instance, a brace can aid in a comfortable recovery, and PT and OT are common post-surgery to help patients regain mobility, strength, and function, especially when a patient has delayed in seeking treatment. So a careful approach is called for, combining patient consultation, appropriate treatment, and of course, the right orthopedic equipment from Coastal Medical Imaging.

Your practice is well-respected in your community. That’s understandable, since you’re the first place people turn to when something goes wrong. But where do you turn when you’re the one who needs help? We don’t just mean life’s aches and pains; we mean the pain points of your practice, not least of which is the breakdowns suffered by clinical equipment and the slowdowns they cause in your office. When treatment or diagnostic equipment isn’t performing 100%, you’re not either. But before you shudder at replacement cost, find out whether medical equipment repair from Coastal Medical Imaging is a viable option. 

On-Site Clinical Equipment Repairs

Our goal, like yours, is to keep your practice running with minimal disruptions. That’s why our medical equipment technicians arrive with manuals, tools, and parts in tow so that most repairs can be handled in your office, getting you back up and running at full capacity quickly. Whether it’s keeping your equipment sanitary with intact cushions, ensuring that the motor runs quietly, or ensuring that all parts have their intended range of motion, we’ve got you covered.

Off-Site Clinical Equipment Repairs

On the other hand, after a consultation, you may decide that having our team on-site could interrupt the flow of your practice. Or there may be cases in which the repairs needed for your treatment equipment — such as your HYLO or decompression table — are better handled in our in-house workshop in Michigan. If that’s the case, don’t worry; we turn repairs around quickly, and your equipment will return to you in like-new condition.

X-Ray Calibrations

Precision matters in practically everything you do, but nowhere is it more important than in imaging. When you’re working with radioisotopes, it’s vital to get the right exposure the first time, not only to ensure an accurate diagnosis but also to minimize exposure for patients and staff alike. Because of the half-life of radioactive elements, x-ray machines lose effectiveness over time and need to be calibrated. Your equipment should be inspected and calibrated biannually. We will provide you with a full report so you understand the nature of the work we’ve done.

Clinical Equipment Maintenance

Sometimes the best way to address the “repair or replace” question is to punt. Mind you, we don’t mean ignoring your equipment. Instead, we suggest paying it closer attention. Timely maintenance is quick, easy, and inexpensive. It’s also the best way we know to stave off repairs, minimizing downtime for your equipment and your practice alike.

Working with Coastal Medical Imaging

Back to our original question: repair or replace? We find that a conservative approach works best. Equipment maintenance should always be your first choice, since it’s less expensive both in the short term and in terms of the money saved in repairs later. That said, age takes its toll, so even well-maintained equipment can suffer breakdowns. We suggest repairs in most cases, but you may also find that the cost of certain repairs (or their frequency, if it’s a piece you’ve used for many years) dictates that replacement makes more sense.  

More than a medical equipment supply company, Coastal Medical Imaging provides medical equipment repair to the Great Lakes region. We serve orthopedists, chiropractors, vets, and a host of other medical practices. And we travel. Our service area covers our home state of Michigan, but if you’re located in Indiana or Ohio, we’re just a phone call away. So get in touch to cover all your diagnostic and treatment equipment needs!

Radiology fulfills a number of functions in veterinary practice. Beyond the obvious uses of diagnostic imaging equipment, it’s useful to remember that X-rays are an important profit center in many practices. That is, of course, contingent on getting it right; radiographic faults, as the industry resource Vet Times reminds us, can be a source of frustration, misdiagnoses, and lost profits. With that in mind, Coastal Medical Imaging has some simple tips to help you get it right.

Ensure Proper Positioning

Modern medical imaging equipment provides better resolution than ever before, allowing vets to identify and treat common (and uncommon) medical problems and improve outcomes. But your diagnostic tools rely on their operator and the diagnostician, so ensure that you’re positioning the patient properly for the region in question and making enough images for a proper diagnosis to be possible. With patience, it’s possible to get it right the first time and cut down on the number of retakes that are necessary.

Use Proper Restraints

It’s hard enough to get a proper exposure on a cooperative human subject. It’s harder still for technicians working with animals who are in unfamiliar surroundings, and who are being handled by someone who—no matter how professional, caring, and gentle—is unfamiliar to them. Using manual restraint or sandbags can be helpful in this regard. However, if you’re dealing with an animal that’s anxious or agitated, a mild sedative can be an even bigger help. It’s not enough to get the animal into position, after all; keeping them in position long enough for a series of proper exposures will lead to less anxiety for all involved (including you).

Reduce Exposure

Nobody wants to be their own nightlight. A single x-ray isn’t harmful for the patient or the person administering it. But technicians typically take hundreds per year, so anything that decreases exposure—from proper protection to not taking unnecessary X-rays—should be embraced.

Ensure Proper Protection

Speaking of proper protection, your approach should be twofold. On the one hand, proper medical radiation shielding in its many forms (stationary and mobile barriers, lead walls, lead glass, and lead curtains) is an absolute necessity. So too, however, is personal protective equipment, including lead aprons and gloves, glasses, and other gear that protects your staff. That said, there’s also no substitute for care or common sense; these protective measures are designed to minimize exposure to excess background radiation, not from exposure to a direct beam.

Proper Maintenance Matters

PPE is not the only means at your disposal to limit exposure to radiation. Proper maintenance of durable medical equipment like your shielding and X-ray machine are also vital. Something as simple—and too often, overlooked—as proper collimation limits accidental exposure. It has follow-on effects, too, since a properly collimated machine provides more accurate dosing and higher image quality. Ensure that your equipment is maintained on schedule and checked constantly for any signs of trouble.

Running a veterinary practice is as challenging as it is rewarding. For help meeting the challenges to maximize the rewards, get in touch with Coastal Medical Imaging. We’re more than an inventory of veterinary equipment for sale—we offer advice and solutions that help from day to day.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there is still reason for hope. Early intervention, even with the frustratingly limited treatments currently available, can slow disease progression and thereby extend quality of life for those with the disease. However, that intervention isn’t possible without an early and accurate diagnosis, which can be difficult in neurological issues. Diagnostic imaging equipment has a part to play in reinforcing cognitive and behavioral testing, ensuring a higher degree of accuracy in diagnosis and buying precious time.

The Importance of Accuracy

When Alzheimer’s is mistaken for something else, such as dementia or traumatic brain injury, precious time is lost, and ineffective treatments applied, meaning that a rapidly-closing window can leave few options when the mistake is caught. This cuts both ways, of course. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 40% of dementia has its roots in causes other than Alzheimer’s, and a UCLA study found that a full 21% of adults with dementia may be misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This leads to “patients not receiving the appropriate treatment, and prevents them from participating in clinical trials that could improve their overall care.”

Current Diagnostic Tools

For quite some time, the diagnostic tools available were limited to cognitive and behavioral evaluations conducted by a general practitioner, geriatrician, or neurologist. Impaired cognitive ability, memory loss, behavioral changes, and degraded ability to do everyday tasks were all taken as possible symptoms, and might be evaluated alongside interviews with friends and family as a control. Testing for other conditions, like strokes and Parkinson’s disease would also be performed to rule out other diseases and disorders.

Brain imaging is a more powerful tool in the diagnostic arsenal. As it stands now, technology like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used to rule out brain tumors, strokes, and cerebral hemorrhage, to distinguish among types of degenerative brain disease, and to understand the degree of degeneration.

New Uses for MRIs in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

The above-cited UCLA study holds out hope for more accurate diagnoses. By measuring brain volume and closely examining the regions of the brain affected, it becomes possible to diagnose with greater accuracy and a higher degree of certainty.

This is due in part to the distinct regions of the brain affected by different pathologies; for instance, the damage found in the hippocampus that is common to Alzheimer’s cases is largely absent or significantly less severe in patients with traumatic brain injury and dementia, whereas the ventral diencephalon damage found in TBI and dementia are not associated with Alzheimer’s. This use of magnetic resonance imaging should increase the accuracy of diagnosis, moving the timeline so that the right treatment starts earlier.

The Future of Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Earlier, we mentioned PET scans in brain imaging. A new use is just over the horizon. As the Mayo Clinic points out, PET scans are capable of finding the tau proteins and amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, even before the onset of symptoms. However, this use is still in the research phase, and may not come into common use as a diagnostic tool for some time yet.

It’s axiomatic that you fight a war with the army you have. All of us at Coastal Medical Imaging are well aware of the dedication and tenacity of those on the front lines in the fight against Alzheimer’s—Alzheimer’s patients, their families and caregivers, as well as the doctors and scientists alike. But we also know that the arsenal available to the “troops” is still a work in progress, and we look forward to further progress as we all fight to eradicate this scourge.

We know that chiropractic care  addresses more than spinal health; it helps patients with their physical, mental, and emotional well-being too. Similarly, Coastal Medical Imaging addresses more than chiropractic offices’ imaging needs. We are a comprehensive chiropractic supply company, offering a range of software and other tools that let you stop worrying about equipment so you can give your patients more of your undivided attention and care.

Imaging Hardware

If you seek an all-in-one imaging solution for your chiropractic practice, our digital Universal Chiropractic System provides high-resolution imaging that’s fast and accurate without the need for film. Its compact size ensures it adapts to a wide range of space constraints, while electromagnetic brakes and fixed positioning help with accuracy. Also inquire about our wired and wireless DR panels, which provide rapid charging, high-res analog to digital conversions, and ample imaging area.

Imaging Software

While we wouldn’t discount the importance of medical imaging — it’s our bread and butter, after all — we’re well aware that it’s what you do with the images that matters. That’s why our chiropractic x-ray systems are bundled with analytical tools and software that allow for advanced orthogonal analysis, upper cervical analysis, ilium analysis, line drawing, and much more. The level of precision our software provides in tandem with hardware allows for a much more thorough approach to chiropractic care.

Tables and Benches

The adjusting table is the backbone of the chiropractic office. We offer multiple options, many of which can be expanded upon or accessorized for pelvic rotation, manual or automatic cocking drops, and much more.

• Electric and manual adjusting tables
• Stationary tables
• Hylo tables
• Combination units that combine elevation, hylo, and flexion-distraction functions
• Roller massage tables for soothing cervical, thoracic, and lumbar massage
• Portable adjustment, massage, and treatment tables that set up in moments

Traction Equipment

Traction systems and decompression tables like those from Triton, Chattanooga, and Saunders help with muscle mobilization, decompression, and depressurization of nerves and discs. With multiple adjustment settings, intermittent and cyclic tension options that mimic hands-on therapy, and a variety of table adjustments, our traction tables, units, and accessories are an ideal addition to your office.

Other Solutions

The products listed above are, of course, only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Among our other options are the Apollo Desktop Laser Unit, which can be used on two patients at once or two areas on the same patient, providing great deep tissue relief. It’s an excellent complement to the FMST TOOLS Fluid Motion Soft Tissue tools. And if you’re like many of our chiropractic partners, you offer other products for sale in your office, including nutritional support and topical pain relief; we invite you to consider our Omni cervical relief pillow as a further beneficial add-on for your patients.

Working with Coastal Medical Imaging

Whether you’re updating the equipment in your practice or are taking your first steps into the field, Coastal Medical Imaging provides a wide range of equipment — with customization options — to ensure you remain on the cutting edge of chiropractic treatment. For a consultation, price quote, or answers to your questions about our product line, get in touch today!

The ability to conduct x-rays in-house provides a number of benefits for healthcare practices. There are no wait times for third-party imaging, results can be evaluated faster, and the quality of patient care is improved. But choosing the correct medical imaging equipment is vital. Coastal Medical Imaging has the following suggestions to help your medical practice — from chiropractors to veterinarians to orthopedists — choose wisely.

Start Simple

You can begin to narrow your options with two easy questions: what are you looking at, and what are you looking for? This will help you rule out large amounts of medical imaging equipment so you’re not wasting time on things your practice doesn’t need.

Digital or Film?

Film machines are less expensive, require less maintenance, and have less to malfunction. Digital machines provide a level of detail — sometimes with the ability to enhance segments of the file — and the ability to store on digital media for quicker recall. Some film machines can be converted for digital use, so if you’re considering making the switch, ask us whether yours is compatible with digital capture.

New or Used?

Medical practices change their equipment periodically to meet changes in demand, meaning that you may find equipment on the secondhand market that perfectly suits your needs. Going through a dealer gives you a level of accountability and peace of mind that might otherwise be missing.

Are You Experienced?

If your practice is incorporating medical imaging as a new service, you’ll want to choose between a stationary unit and one that’s portable. You’ll also need to evaluate your premises to see what kind of radiation shielding you’ll need, and any other accommodations you’ll need to make.

Get Help

That brings us to our next point. From our patients to our available space, no practice is one-size-fits-all. A DVM specializing in large animals is going to have different requirements than one whose clientele are mostly dog and cat owners; each, in turn, will have much different needs than a chiropractor. But even within those constraints, there are many more options than you may realize, so a consultation ahead of your purchase can help steer you toward something that fits your practice (and your space constraints) best.

Choose the Right Provider

For all their differences, the best medical practices share one thing in common: they’re in demand because they provide a higher level of care and a personal touch to all they serve. We suggest that you choose your medical imaging supplier every bit as carefully as your patients have chosen you.

For more than a quarter of a century, countless practices throughout Michigan have chosen Great Lakes Imaging to meet their needs, and exceed their expectations. That’s because in addition to medical equipment sales, we also offer medical equipment installation, maintenance, repair, and a host of custom health equipment and supplies. Contact Coastal Medical Imaging today with your questions and needs — we’re here to help!