WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) has opened a new community-based imaging facility inside its Health and Wellness Plaza location at 1575 Washington St. in Watertown. The imaging center’s opening is the culmination of an agreement finalized in February between Samaritan and the now closed Northern Radiology Imaging (NRI). In the agreement, Samaritan purchased […]
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) has opened a new community-based imaging facility inside its Health and Wellness Plaza location at 1575 Washington St. in Watertown.
The imaging center’s opening is the culmination of an agreement finalized in February between Samaritan and the now closed Northern Radiology Imaging (NRI). In the agreement, Samaritan purchased all equipment from NRI and hired some of the practice’s staff.
Radiologists from NRI continue to provide image-interpretation services for Samaritan at all its locations, “as they have for years” through their private practice, called Northern Radiology Associates.
The new office — which formally opened June 28 — provides imaging services complete with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography), and CT (computerized tomography) scans; ultrasound; x-ray; mammography; and stereotactic breast biopsies, Samaritan Health said.
It represents the latest development in Samaritan’s efforts to consolidate and align services, streamline patient access, and “enhance the continuity of care,” the organization said in a release.
SMC currently handles more than 100,000 radiology and imaging procedures per year.
Speaking at a formal-opening event for the imaging center, Thomas Carman, president and CEO of Samaritan Health, said the new facility wouldn’t have been possible without acquiring the assets from Northern Radiology Imaging.
“It really has allowed us to strengthen the partnership between the two organizations, Samaritan and Northern Radiology Associates … this will allow Samaritan to continue to provide high quality technical services and Northern Radiology Associates to provide those professional services that they do so well,” said Carman.
“This will truly be an outpatient community location where people can go and don’t have to go the main campus [of Samaritan Medical Center]. It’ll be a lot easier for our patients and for everyone that comes here as well,” he added.
King + King Architects of Syracuse designed the facility, Carman noted in his remarks.
Samaritan continues to offer imaging services including MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, X-ray and more at its main hospital location, plus X-ray and ultrasound services at various community-based sites. These sites provide access to walk-in and appointment-based imaging and lab services, the organization said.
