NORTH ADAMS - While mammography patients at North Adams Regional Hospital may not immediately see the difference two new digital mammography machines make during their exams, the top-of-the-line technology is bringing both efficiency and speed to the process.

"They probably won't even notice a difference in the machines since we've gone with the same company that manufactured our analog machines," Lisa Harrison, director of medical imaging, said Friday, explaining one of the two new Lorad Selenia Digital Mammography Units in the hospital's radiology department.

"What patients will notice is less of a wait time in our lobby, since we'll automatically know if an image needs to be redone."

For radiologists and technologists at the hospital, the digital technology eliminates the need to develop film, allows for an easy transfer of information to primary care physicians and a better look at breasts made dense by fibro glandular tissue.

"A dense breast isn't necessarily a large breast," Debra Corkins lead mammography imager, said. "Most breasts are comprised of fatty tissue, which is easy to see on film, but the dense tissue appears white and can be difficult to see."

Not only does the new technology make breast images readily available, it also provides a different perspective for doctors who can now manipulate the images and magnify them without having to call patients back in for a special type of mammogram.

"The importance of this upgrade really is the ability

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to manipulate the images and to see finer details," Dr. Andre Langlois, chief radiologist, said. "We need to be careful when talking about new technology, because analog technology is still a great tool. Digital is superior in several areas. It's also paving the way for new technology - it's not going to be the end."

He said the new equipment also allows for a smooth transition of the images, allowing primary care doctors to view them on computers in their offices. It also allows for the immediate comparison of previous exams films, which are being digitized by hospital staff.

"It's important to note that the hospital has invested in this technology at a time when budgets are tight," Langlois said. "It shows the directors of this hospital and health care organization are conscious of patient needs."

The combined cost of the two machines was $345,000, which was part of the hospital's annual capital budget as part of a plan to upgrade the radiological department. To round out the department, the hospital also recently invested $54,000 in a digital GE Lunar Densitometry machine for bone density testing.

"It's a wonderful change for the hospital, " Linda Bailot, the hospital's lead bone densitometer, said. "I've been with the hospital since 1997 and this machine is very user friendly. With the old machine, I would constantly have to have people change positions, but this one does everything on its own."

The machine uses a low-level X-ray and laser technology to calculate an individual's bone density.

"We have a lot of patients who schedule both their mammogram and their bone density test on the same day," Bailot said. "Women are recommended to have a bone density test when the start menopause. We're also starting to more men, who can suffer from bone density loss because of low testosterone levels or medications for health problems with the heart, intestines or pituitary gland."

Not only has the new machine expedited the test time, it also has allowed the hospital to digitize the records of the some 8,000 patients who have been tested since 1997.