Hemas Hospitals introduces new technology to the South

Hemas Southern Hospital has obtained the latest technology to detect osteoporosis. The state-of-the-art machine is known as Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner.

This is the first time the DEXA technology is made available in a private hospital outside Colombo and the first time a private hospital in Sri Lanka acquired the modern fan-beam technology, a Hemas Hospitals spokesman said.

The machine is capable of scanning clinically relevant skeletal sites such as the spine, proximal femur, and forearm in detecting osteoporosis. Manufactured by Hologic Inc USA, the machine is fitted with the latest WHO FRAX algorithm software which is used widely to define intervention thresholds in postmenopausal osteoporosis, the spokesman added.

Explaining the new technology, Professor Sarath Lekamwasam, Professor of Medicine – Faculty of Medicine, Galle said that DEXA is the gold standard technology in detecting bone density which is used to diagnose osteoporosis and determine fracture risk. He added that many patients with osteoporosis are not detected due to the restricted availability of this technology. Currently, there are only four DEXA machines in the country.

He added: “The DEXA machine installed at Hemas Southern Hospital uses the state-of-art fan-beam technology and this is the first time such a machine is made available in the private sector of Sri Lanka.”

He emphasised that it is a very safe procedure and no special preparation is required before the test.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by reduced bone material content associated with the deterioration of bone strength, finally leading to a fracture or bending of spine. In the new technology the patient only needs to lie down on the scan table for eight to 10 minutes to complete the scan. During the procedure, the patient can wear normal clothes but metallic objects like pins and clips have to be removed.

By using DEXA technology, it is possible to decide the type of care the patient requires in order to prevent the progression of the disease.

This could vary from prevention to treatment.

Hemas Hospitals recently enjoyed the honour of receiving an international accreditation from the prestigious Australian Council on Healthcare Standard International (ACHSI), which is Australia’s leading healthcare accreditation provider delivering accreditation and quality improvement programmes throughout the world.

This prestigious accreditation that applies to both Hemas Hospitals facilities in Wattala and Galle makes it the first and the only chain of healthcare facilities to receive such an international accreditation in Sri Lanka.