subject: Portable x-ray systems allow physicians to work in a disaster situation [print this page] For physicians who specialize in working in disaster areas, the patients cannot go to the physicians' offices, but instead the doctors must have a way to bringing as much of their medical offices' capabilities with them as they can. Mobility is a must in this type of circumstance, and thus doctors turn to a portable x-ray system in order to take the digital medical images they need for accurate and fast diagnoses in the field.
You will want a portable digital x-ray machine to be lightweight. This makes it easier to move the portable xray equipment longer distances, and makes for more convenience in packing and unpacking the unit from your vehicle. Mobile digital imaging systems come with wheeled carts and hand carts, so that you can transport the equipment to the patient more easily, and many are under a hundred pounds.
You can do with a portable digital x-ray machine what you would normally do with the digital imaging equipment at your home office. Both CR and DR units are available, and both allow you to capture digital medical images with the same speed that you enjoy at your home base.
Another benefit is the viewing capabilities when using mobile digital imaging systems. You can tell in a matter of seconds if you have a good image or if you need to retake it, seconds that can mean life and death in the emergency situation presented by a disaster. Digital xrays captured in disaster areas can be enhanced through the use of brightness, contrast and resolution, and precise digital measurements can be taken quickly, thereby improving diagnostic capabilities and better patient care.
If you run into an unexpected or unusual situation with a patient due to the disaster, you have other options with your portable equipment. If you are connected to a wireless laptop personal computer, you can send and receive digital medical images there, making it possible to consult with other physicians not at the disaster location, and to send the digital images back to your home office for archiving. The equipment can also be connected to a portable printer to produce hard copy digital x-rays as needed.
It can be difficult to know in advance exactly what you will be facing when you go to help people in a disaster situation brought about by hurricanes, earthquakes and other events, but the more compact medical technology you can bring in with you, the more you can accurately diagnose and assist those in need.
Portable x-ray systems allow physicians to work in a disaster situation
