For Immediate Release Contact marketingcommunications@us.medical.canon
December 3, 2008
Dr. Timothy Albert to Lead Program and Utilize Industry Leading Vantage TechnologyCHICAGO — December 3, 2008 — To further the advancement of using Magnetic Resonance (MR) in diagnosing cardiovascular disease, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. and CVMR Solutions, Inc. have partnered to create a cardiac MR educational series for physicians and technologists. This educational series, which is the first cardiac MR program offered by Toshiba and one of the first in the country, will be taught by leading cardiac MR expert, Dr. Timothy Albert, medical director of the Cardiovascular Diagnostic Center (CVDC) for Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS). It will focus on the latest techniques in cardiovascular MR imaging using Toshiba’s Vantage™ Atlas MR system. Cardiac MR protocols are becoming particularly important in diagnosing cardiovascular disease. Unlike some other diagnostic tests, MR shows both anatomy and function, such as blood flow, and is becoming the gold standard for analyzing valve structure, heart function and imaging of heart disease patients without radiation. “Advanced cardiovascular MR imaging was typically limited to academic centers, but our new cardiac MR course will help expand the number of physicians and technologists utilizing cardiac MR at their practices,” said Dr. Albert. “We are proud to be a leader in teaching advanced MR applications and expanding the ability to diagnose cardiovascular disease.” Taught at the Cardiovascular Diagnostic Center located at SVMHS’s Ryan Ranch outpatient facility in Monterey County, Calif., the cardiac MR educational series will consist of three Level 1 CME courses, comprised of two courses for physicians and one for technologists. “At Toshiba, we strive to be at the forefront of education and technology advances,” said Sharon Yoon, director, Education and Sales Support, Toshiba. “Through the cardiac MR educational program, physicians and technologists will gain further understanding of applications for cardiac MR and how to use the patient-friendly features of the Vantage MR system to help improve patient care and outcomes.” The “Level 1 Physician Lecture Series” will offer a basic-to-intermediate level of understanding of cardiac MR and provide physicians with a general working knowledge of the field and its applications in cardiac care. These courses will include an introduction to cardiac MR, live case demonstrations, mentored case review, hands-on scanner exposure, education in programmatic set up, operation and marketing, and updates on the latest research and clinical studies. The “Cardiac MR Technologist Training Program” will provide general instruction in cardiac MR imaging techniques and basic clinical education for cardiac patients. Throughout the course, technologists will be introduced to cardiac MR sequences, receive education regarding the cardiac patient and work flow, learn trouble-shooting techniques and participate in hands-on scanner operation. After completion of this course, the technologist will be able to carry out routine cardiac MRI studies, be aware of common imaging pitfalls and solutions, and facilitate cardiac MR program development at their institution. Finally, Dr. Albert will partner with CVCTA Education, a leader in cardiac CT education, to develop remote learning materials in cardiac MRI that will allow physicians to obtain initial exposure to the field and broaden their knowledge base, while gaining credits towards Level 1 and Level 2 training requirements. More information about the cardiac MR educational series is available athttp://www.ToshibaLearningCenter.com/ About Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas Valley Memorial Hospital is a Public District Hospital that is part of the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. The Healthcare System is an integrated network of health care programs, services and facilities. At the core of the system is a 269-bed acute care hospital with several distinct specializations and programs, including the Regional Heart Program, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Joint Replacement Center, and the Regional Spine Center. Salinas Valley Memorial employs more than 2,200 people and the Medical Staff includes 265 physicians across a range of specialties. About ToshibaWith headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., an independent group company of Toshiba Corp., is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, Cath & EP Labs, X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI and information systems. Toshiba Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. Toshiba has approximately 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $77 billion. For more information, visit www.medical.toshiba.com. |