What makes us unique?
RADIOLOGY WEST is unique because of its dedication to excellence in patient care. The company provides service to a very diverse population with a variety of needs and as such, are always endeavouring to provide the most cutting-edge, minimally invasive options for the clientele. All the work carried out for patients is done in a manner that aims to provide the best patient comfort and care, both physically and mentally.
Another reason for its growth in the last two decades is its staff. Each and every member of staff is aware of their role and is committed to giving of only their very best – from the director to the auxiliary staff. Each member understands the concept of patient care. Radiology West is a family. Each person, is always willing to put the work in to be better, to serve better, to build. It is this family spirit that makes it easy for Radiology West to genuinely open its arms to welcoming the public, taking the very best care of them. It is the genuine love for people that has the company listening through monthly patient comments to improve where feasible, to grow.
The staff is never comfortable for long – but in a good way! They arduously look for ways to grow.
HIGH LEVEL SERVICE
In 2018, the Radiology West office at the GWest Centre decided to become a 365-day-a-year facility in order to provide a higher level of service, as well as support the urgent care centre and other facilities in the GWest Centre. The operating hours are currently every day of the week – from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They are open on weekends and holidays throughout the day. The Market Street office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It doesn’t stop there! Radiology West offers emergency services every day after closing till opening the next day! This is possible only because of the dedication of our staff.
The ever-ambitious staff is all trained in primary first aid with the medical staff trained in basic life support and advanced life support. The technologists and radiologists are continuously being educated and bringing new technologies to the table. The full time radiologists have taken the baton in this regard.
Dr Konrad Kirlew specialises in neuro-radiology, taking an intricate look at MRI and CT brain cases and presenting their findings, in some cases, to students as a part of his role as assistant lecturer in the Department of Radiology at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
Dr Nichole Grant specialises in imaging of the colon using computerized tomography (virtual colonoscopy) in her quest to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates due to colon cancer. This is a modality pioneered by Radiology West in the western part of the island. Dr Grant has been integral to the promotion of colorectal cancer screening. She also specialises in platelet rich plasma therapy, which is a fairly new modality used to treat a myriad of musculoskeletal pathologies. Dr Grant also offers the service of
image-guided musculoskeletal injections, which aid in pain management through faster and safer muscular repair- a technology that benefits our sportsmen and women of Jamaica. CT-guided lung biopsies also fall under her purview, which provides an invaluable service to patients who would normally have to travel to Kingston in order to obtain diagnoses of their pulmonary masses.
Dr Duane Chambers specialises in cardiac imaging, offering CT calcium scores and cardiac CT angiography, which aids in the prediction of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, and the diagnosis of other coronary and cardiac pathologies. He also specialises in interventional radiology, which includes drainages and various tube placements, such as nephrostomies. He also spearheads the therapeutic offering of selective salpingography and tubal recanalization, helping women with partially blocked fallopian tubes to unblock them, giving them hope to conceive. Dr Chambers has also begun the groundwork for cardiac CT research.
Dr Brenda Barnes works parttime, providing both general radiology services and interventional radiology expertise. She is an expert in the insertion of peripherally inserted central catheter lines in patients in whom it is hard to get regular intravenous accesses. She has also been instrumental in the educating of junior radiologists at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
Dr Kay Rodgers works parttime, providing general radiology services, interventional radiology services and biopsies with a wealth of experience that cannot be overstated. Like Dr Barnes, Dr Rodgers takes a keen interest in the grooming of junior residents in radiology as well as senior medical officers at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
This they all do with the help of the technologists and sonographers with whom they work, some of which have taken special interests in their fields.
Claudia Tavares, technologist and sonographer extraordinaire, has been with the company for 19 years and has worn many hats. However, in recent years she has been integral in assisting the radiologists through The Burwin Institute in Canada to train radiographers at the company to become sonographers.
Yolanda Smart, president of the Society of Radiographers, is currently a sonographer with a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasonography. She has served the company for almost nine years.
Kamala Anderson, who has been a team member since 2012, is currently the CT cardiac technologist.
Radiology West employs its very own biomedical engineer, which ensures that machines are fully serviced and downtime kept to a minimum. This means that Radiology West is generally always in a position to serve!
Radiology West, through innovation, excellent patient care and unmatched staff dedication, hopes to be able to serve Jamaica in even greater capacities for the next 20 years and beyond!