Swedish Medical Center

Purchase & Implementation of the ACIST CMS We purchased the ACIST CMS system in a effort to conserve contrast and provide better image quality. The decision was made by an administrator as well as a cardiologist, and we did not really consider any other systems except the Medrad injector (Indianola, PA), which we were using at the time. There really weren™t any other comparable systems out there. Customer support for the ACIST CMS was very good. There is a learning curve to using this system in terms of its operation as well as troubleshooting, as with all new technology. We found that the company was very supportive during this learning curve. Technologists and Cardiologists Share Their Thoughts We are very happy with the ACIST system, which offers us the opportunity to provide better care for our patients. Our cardiologists as well as our technologists really like the cleaner table (less tubing and equipment are needed than with the old manifold system) that the ACIST system provides, as well as the system™s ease of use. Our cardiologists feel the image quality we get using the ACIST CMS is much better. Lower contrast use is also a large cost savings for the lab. Procedure time has been reduced due to the ease of use, providing a cleaner, less cluttered table, and good image quality. We do not use smaller catheters in our lab, and so have not been able to take advantage of this option offered by the ACIST system. Our number of interventions make it cost-prohibitive to do so, since we end up having to revert to larger catheters so often. Utilizing Isovue The decision to utilize Isovue contrast was also made by an administrator as well as a cardiologist, although we do not utilize the Multipack. We chose this option primarily because of cost reasons. Image quality is excellent and our patient complication rate is significantly lower. We have less hypotensive and cardiac complications than with our old contrast. Isovue has brought us lower contrast cost as well as better patient care. Complications are minimal and image quality is very good. Contrast wastage has also been significantly reduced. We have achieved this through two means:   using Isovue, and the capability of the CMS re-useable syringe.

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