All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

St. Joseph’s Hospital adds second CT scanner, enhancing cardiac and lung imaging capacity

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital has installed a second CT scanner — the Canon Prism — marking a major expansion of the hospital’s diagnostic imaging capabilities. The scanner is now fully installed and will begin being used for patient care in as early as next week.

The Canon Prism features a large-area digital detector that captures the entire heart in a single heartbeat. This advancement is especially critical when scanning coronary arteries, where motion can reduce diagnostic accuracy. With this addition, St. Joseph’s will be able to diagnose cardiovascular conditions with greater speed and precision.

The scanner is equipped with AiCE, a deep learning artificial intelligence technology that enhances image quality by reducing noise and increasing contrast resolution. This allows clinicians to interpret results with improved clarity and confidence.

For preventive lung imaging, the Canon Prism includes SilverBeam™ technology, which enables low-dose, high- resolution lung cancer screenings at radiation levels comparable to a traditional chest X-ray. This supports safer screening without sacrificing diagnostic detail and will be coming online in 2026.

The system also includes an increased table weight capacity of over 650 pounds to better accommodate patients with larger body habitus. Additionally, a lateral sliding table improves patient positioning within the gantry, enhancing image quality and reducing the need for repeat scans.

“This investment further strengthens our commitment to early detection, precision imaging, and patient safety,” said Skip Gjolberg, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital. “CT angiography has become the new gold standard for coronary diagnostic imaging. With this additional scanner, we can reduce wait times, expand capacity, and continue providing advanced care close to home.”

The installation of the Canon Prism reflects St. Joseph’s ongoing commitment to bringing leading-edge medical technology to rural West Virginia, improving access to high-quality diagnostic care without the need for travel.

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