Northside Hospital's Northside/Towne Lake Imaging in Woodstock now offers pediatric sedation for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) imaging to its scope of services. "We are pleased to be able to offer pediatric sedation for these more advanced diagnostic imaging procedures for children and teens," said Tanya Fields, M.D., a board-certified radiologist with a sub-specialty in pediatric imaging. "Northside Hospital continues to invest in state-of-the-art technology and programs in order to provide comprehensive services and convenience to our patients."

Kavitha Bareddy, M.D., a board-certified anesthesiologist with pediatric experience and medical director of pediatric imaging sedation at Northside Hospital, adds, "Children are naturally anxious on a trip to the doctor, particularly when they don't feel well or are in pain; getting them to be still during an MRI or CT procedure can be challenging. When procedural sedation is recommended, we use a variety of effective and safe techniques, which are tailored to the specific needs of each child and their planned procedure."

Dr. Fields and Dr. Bareddy lead Northside/Cherokee Towne Lake Imaging's pediatric team alongside PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)-certified sedation nurses. Together, they work to ensure that the highest quality diagnostic images are obtained. After each exam, Northside's PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications Systems) allows the radiologist and the child's referring physician to view images simultaneously from their own offices and computers. This enables them to directly discuss each child's case and determine an accurate diagnosis much faster. Both parents and referring physicians are always kept in the information loop and results are typically available in less than 24 hours. Faster results mean shorter waits for diagnosis and treatment.

Northside/Cherokee Towne Lake Imaging offers high-quality radiology/imaging services for patients of all ages. The facility, which moved to the new Northside Cherokee/Towne Lake Medical Campus in 2013, offers MRI, CT, digital screening mammography, digital X-ray, bone densitometry and ultrasound exams in addition to the new pediatric sedation service.