ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY

A 10-year agreement with Avera Queen of Peace Health Services of Mitchell, for the lease, operation and management of Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center in June 2000, has resulted in an increase in medical services and technological improvements in the medical facilities and services available in our community. 

The acquisition of a permanent mammography unit from Avera St. Luke's in Aberdeen in January 2001, now enables Avera Weskota to provide onsite mammography services.

The Diagnostic Imaging Department now boasts a state of the art Multix Top Radiology Unit that replaced a 26-year old machine.  The new equipment provides high quality radiographs while ensuring patient comfort and safety on the floating tabletop. 

A surgical specialty clinic offered twice monthly in conjunction with Mitchell Surgical Prof., L.L.C., enables patients to have colonoscopies, gastroscopies and other minor surgical procedures at Avera Weskota.

Teleradiology, a technology that connects rural hospitals with larger regional health care centers, allows Avera Weskota Diagnostic Imaging personnel to send x-ray images over a telephone line for reading by Radiologists at Avera Queen of Peace.  This greatly decreases the time it takes to receive input from specialized health care professionals.

Avera Weskota is a partner in the Avera Rural and Frontier Disease Management Telehealth Network.  The primary goals of the Network are to use various telehealth technologies to develop a coordinated disease management program, develop a pediatrics telemedicine program and increase the availability of needed educational events.