For over a century, doctors have been using X-rays to produce images of tissues within the human body.

But a major advance in X-ray technology, now in use at Phoebe, uses digital technology in place of old, cumbersome film systems.

Until the introduction of digital technology, X-ray imaging used basically the same technology discovered by Roentgen in 1895. Heavy film was exposed, developed, coded, placed in large envelopes, then stored for review. Processing the film, packaging and transporting it all took valuable time from the diagnosis process, especially when more than one doctor was involved in the diagnosis.

Digital X-ray images, viewed on a high-resolution computer screen, are faster, produce better quality images and are available to doctors for evaluation within minutes of the production of the image, no matter how far the doctor may be from the X-ray site.

Phoebe is among the early leaders in adopting digital X-ray technology, as well as in other diagnostic imaging. Now, doctors serving patients all across Southwest Georgia can receive images and diagnostic information from radiologists much more quickly. This means more accurate decisions on treatment can be made more quickly, a concrete benefit to patients.