Johnston-Willis Hospital Acquires the Gamma Knife Perfexion
Latest in Neuroscience Technology Expands Knifeless Surgery Capability and Expedites Treatment Delivery
Media Contact:
JC Sadler
(804) 201-6543
JC.Sadler@HCAhealthcare.com
Richmond, VA, January 7, 2010 – CJW Medical Center’s Johnston-Willis Hospital has replaced its Gamma KnifeŽ with the Gamma KnifeŽ Perfexion™ and is one of only two hospitals in Virginia, and the only in Richmond, with the most advanced radiosurgery system on the market for head treatment. The new Perfexion extends the Gamma Knife’s reach from only the brain to also include the skull base and portions of the cervical spine. Updates in the Perfexion were specifically designed to improve patient comfort and treatment time through advanced automation.
“There are only a handful of Gamma Knife Perfexion machines in the United States and we are fortunate to be able to offer this service to our patients,” said K. Singh Sahni, M.D., Medical Director of the Neuroscience and Gamma Knife Center. “Its advanced technology enables us to treat a wide spectrum of brain tumors including multiple metastatic tumors from breast, colon and lung cancer in a very precise, fast, and accurate manner without compromising patient comfort. In fact, patient comfort was one of the major factors in the design of this new machine.”
Gamma Knife Perfexion surgery has many advantages for patients. Instead of traditional brain surgery, the Gamma KnifeŽ Perfexion™ is actually knifeless, and is done without major incisions. Therefore, compared with traditional open surgery, Gamma KnifeŽ Perfexion™ surgery is gentler and can be performed in a day, leading to shorter recovery times. The patient’s head does not have to be shaved and side effects are few. Also, the patient can usually leave the same day or the next, compared to often several weeks in the hospital with traditional surgery.
The non-invasive treatment simultaneously focuses 192 beams of ionizing radiation to reach tiny brain tumors and lesions. The Perfexion’s precise accuracy can target the actual tumor site, thereby sparing surrounding tissues.
“The Perfexion takes radiosurgery to a new level,” said Steven Castle, Administrator. “Now even more patients will be able to receive this specialized treatment.”
Johnston-Willis Hospital obtained its original Gamma Knife in 2004 and it has been used for more than 1,300 treatments on brain tumors and other neurological disorders. Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare neurological disorder with symptoms including extreme facial pain, has brought patients to Johnston-Willis Hospital from all over the United States. The Gamma KnifeŽ Perfexion™ can also be used to treat complicated pituitary tumors, acoustic tumors, and meningiomas.
About CJW Medical Center
CJW Medical Center has 758 beds on its two campuses. Chippenham Hospital, in the city of Richmond, offers a state-designated level III trauma center, The Levinson Heart Hospital and Tucker Pavilion; while Johnston-Willis Hospital, in Chesterfield County, offers the Thomas Johns Cancer Hospital and the Neuroscience & Gamma Knife Center. CJW Medical Center is a member of HCA Virginia Health System. www.CJWMedical.com
About HCA Virginia Health System – Central Virginia Market
With 1,800 beds, more than 6,600 employees and 1,600 affiliated physicians, the Central Virginia team of HCA Virginia Health System is the largest and most comprehensive healthcare provider and one of the largest private employers in Central Virginia. In Central Virginia, HCA Virginia Health System operates six hospital campuses along with freestanding surgery, imaging and family health centers. Our hospitals include Chippenham Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, John Randolph Medical Center, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital. Both CJW Medical Center and Henrico Doctors’ Hospital have been named HealthGrades ‘America’s 50 Best Hospitals’ in 2007 and 2008. They are the only Virginia hospitals to earn this distinction two years in a row. For more information or to select a physician, please contact 804-320-DOCS or visit www.HCAvirginia.com.
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