Allegheny Valley Hospital unveils $12 million imaging upgrade to cut patient wait times

Several times each week, a box truck arrives at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison to potentially save lives.

A new mobile imaging pad outside the hospital on Carlisle Street allows rotating MRI and PET CT capabilities, opening 40 more appointments a week.

The truck travels throughout the region, pulling up on select days at the hospital here to offer specialty screenings.

“MRI slots are tough to get,” said Mark Rubino, hospital president, as he led a tour Wednesday of the $12 million renovation of the facility’s imaging and radiology department.

Rubino touted enhanced services and improved patient access to ultrasound, 3D mammography, CT scanning, radiography and dual X-ray absorptiometry, among others.

The roving PET CT service is particularly crucial for cancer patients, as it enables more precise staging and treatment planning, he said.

The 8,000-square-foot imaging center is on the ground floor of the hospital.

“These upgrades to our imaging capabilities at AVH ensure that patients have access to the most accurate and comprehensive diagnostic services available close to home,” Rubino said.

The mobile imaging, especially, provides more timely care and reduces wait times to improve patient outcomes, he said.

“Our cancer patients can now receive their PET scans right here at AVH, eliminating the need to travel to other facilities,” said Bethany Casagranda, chair of the AHN Imaging Institute.

The project, announced last year, provides a wider range of services under one roof. Last year, the hospital discontinued use of a satellite radiology center on Freeport Road, a couple miles away, and instead began to offer services on-site.

Construction included extensive reconfiguration of hospital space. Upgraded technology is expected to provide convenience and cutting-edge service for patients.

AVH did not previously offer bone density testing but does now — there have been more than 1,200 tests completed so far this year.

In the fluoroscopy room where specialty procedures are done, new equipment replaced technology more than 20 years old.

“Not only did we upgrade technology but our physical space, too,” Casagranda said.

Providing a calm experience was a priority, leaders said, with ADA-compliant dressing rooms, mural-painted ceiling tiles for distraction and larger open spaces.

“Everything was done to meet a need in the Alle-Kiski Valley,” said Douglas Johnston, vice president of hospital strategy and operations. “There’s expansion to handle the volume, modernization to offer the best and closest access for patients, and consolidation of services to provide efficiency.”