LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital proudly announces the arrival of the Philips IE33 echocardiogram.

“Our Imaging Department is thrilled to offer our community state-of-the-art technology,” said assistant administrator Tiffany Ortega. “We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new echo. When we finally got the call from our Receiving Department that it was on our loading dock, it felt like Christmas morning.”

The new Philips IE33 allows the heart to be displayed in real time to fully assess cardiac function and the structural relationships within the cardiovascular system.

This technology also reflects the heart’s actual size and determines how well blood is pumping out of the heart, comparing multiple segments of the cardiovascular system simultaneously.

The software immediately translates anatomical measurements to a transcribed report which save valuable time; the images generated by the echocardiogram can be sent electronically from one clinician to another for consulting purposes.     

“To go from using an echocardiogram that relies on VHS images that have to be transcribed to this new technology that offers immediate 3D, full-color images is like going from driving a VW bus to a Porsche,” said Director of Imaging Jose Aponte. “We love being able to offer our patients the very best and the Philips IE33 is the definition of excellence.”

The purchase of the Philips IE33 was funded entirely by the community’s philanthropic generosity.

In 2013, Lake County community members, businesses and Sutter Lakeside Hospital employees joined together to raise over $110,000 for heart health.

Sutter Health contributed a matching grant of $85,000 on top of these funds, allowing the hospital to purchase the Philips IE33.

“We approached our donors asking for big numbers and they absolutely stood behind us,” said Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “Because of philanthropic giving, our hospital offers a lot of technology that most people don’t expect to find in a rural hospital. We may be small, but because of our donors, and our relationship with Sutter Health, we’re mighty.”

To learn more about Sutter Lakeside, please visit www.sutterlakeside.org/ .