T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital had recent turnover in the pediatric radiology program, but officials said there will still be full coverage.
Officials said, "TCTCH continues to be the only hospital in the region area offering comprehensive pediatric radiology services/coverage.
"Pediatric x-rays, CT and MRI scans continue to be read by pediatric radiologists, including Dr. Marla Sammer, who started here in July. She not only completed her pediatric fellowship training at the University of Washington School of Medicine, but also served on the faculty and is well qualified for this position.
"Joining her in November, will be Dr. Lynn Carlson, who completed her pediatric radiology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center."
Officials said Dr. Edward Burton retired this year, Dr. Pat Lowery, who was previously associated with TCTCH pediatric radiology, has moved out of state with her family, and a third (former) pediatric radiologist is now practicing elsewhere in the region. They will be replaced by the two new pediatric radiologists.
Officials said, "After hours pediatric radiology coverage has not changed and in November, there will be more pediatric radiology coverage than in recent years - with two full-time pediatric radiologists providing daily coverage, versus 1.5 previously.
"There is an in-house radiologist reading studies until 11 each night. After 11, emergency studies are read by an offsite teleradiologist, with a pediatric radiologist issuing the final report the next morning.
"On weekends, there are four pediatric teleradiologists doing studies, including Dr. Lowery, who now lives out of state."
Children's Hospital is sending out this letter about the pediatric radiology changes:
What’s New in Pediatric Radiology
We are very excited about the new technology and new pediatric radiologists coming to the Pediatric Radiology Department at T. C. Thompson Children’s Hospital and wanted to let you know all about what’s happening.
New Technology
Through a generous grant from the Emily's Power For a Cure Neuroblastoma Foundation and others, we will soon be installing a dedicated pediatric state-of-the-art GE 64-slice CT scanner with new ASIR technology. ASIR is a new reconstruction technique that allows us to reduce radiation dose by up to 40%. We are proud to be the first to bring this new dose-reducing CT scanner to the Chattanooga area.
A new Philips ultrasound scanner has arrived, with the latest hardware and software that gives us even better image resolution, especially important in pediatric radiology.
Our computed radiography system has been upgraded and offers the lowest CR radiation dose in this region while maintaining excellent radiograph image quality.
New Radiologists
Two new fellowship-trained pediatric radiologists are joining us, Marla Sammer, MD and Lynn Carlson, MD. Dr. Sammer, who started in July, completed her radiology residency and pediatric radiology fellowship at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Carlson, who will be starting in November, completed her radiology residency and pediatric radiology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.
Please join me in welcoming both of these physicians to our community.
While we are waiting for Dr. Carlson to start, we’ll have some help from locums pediatric radiologists. In addition, some of our other radiologists will be rotating through pediatric radiology to provide assistance to Dr. Sammer or the locums pediatric radiologist. In the future, this small group of other subspecialty radiologists will continue to periodically rotate through pediatric radiology to help Dr. Sammer and Dr. Carlson when one is on vacation.
Call Coverage
One question that often comes up is “who reads the pediatric studies at night?” For the foreseeable future, night coverage will not change from what we have been doing. There is an in-house radiologist reading emergency studies until 11pm each night. After 11pm, our emergency studies are read by an off-site teleradiologist. Since some studies might need subspecialty review, you may only receive a preliminary report after-hours. A pediatric radiologist will then issue the final report the next morning. If at any time you need to discuss a case with a radiologist, you can call 778-6515 and the technologist will connect you.
On weekends, we’ll have a group of four pediatric teleradiologists reading our studies. One of these is Dr. Lowry, who has recently moved away. The pediatric teleradiologists are also available to answer your questions on weekend mornings.
Call for pediatric procedures such as upper GI studies and barium enemas will be covered by the pediatric radiologists with help from a small group of other subspecialty radiologists that rotate through pediatric radiology.
Call or come by
If you would like to speak to one of our radiologists, please either stop by Children’s Radiology or call us at 778-6515. We are always happy to review imaging studies either in person or over the phone. To schedule an ultrasound or fluoro procedure, call 778-6515. For CT or MRI, call 778-5800.
We appreciate the opportunity to work with you and to provide you and your patients with the highest quality pediatric radiology services.
R. Kent Hutson, MD
Chief, Department of Radiology, Erlanger Health System
Chair, Department of Radiology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga
Alan E. Kohrt, MD FAAP
Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga
Senior Medical Director, TC Thompson Children's Hospital