Veterinary-Only Imaging and Radiotherapy Center Opens in Clifton, N.J.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

CLIFTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002

The Veterinary MRI and Radiotherapy Center of New Jersey (vetMRIRT), the first privately owned veterinary MRI, CT and radiotherapy center in the world, will open its doors for business November 11 in Clifton, N.J.

The Center provides high quality MR and CT imaging as well as radiotherapy for veterinarians with patients in need of such services.

Until now advanced imaging has been available only on a limited basis utilizing human facilities during off-hours in most cases. Usually that meant a long drive and an overnight stay for both owners and their pets. Because the vetMRIRT Center is designed for veterinary use only, imaging can be handled on an outpatient basis with no overnight stays required. And, with its location in the heart of the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, it will be easily accessible to pet owners from most of New Jersey, southern New York State, Northeastern Pennsylvania and New York City.

The Center is owned and operated by veterinarians, including some of the most recognized specialists in the country. The Center's board boasts board certified specialists in surgery, radiology, internal medicine, imaging, oncology and radiation oncology. The oncologist, the radiologist and the radiation oncologist are the only individuals in the State to hold those credentials.

Staff members include Neal Mauldin, DVM Dip. ACVR, the region's only board certified radiation oncologist, Renee Alsarraf, DVM Dip. ACVIM, New Jersey's only board certified veterinary oncologist, and Justin Goggin, DVM Dip. ACVR, New Jersey's only board-certified veterinary radiologist. Adam Sniderman, VMD, is the Managing Director.

"We have compiled an excellent group of veterinary specialists who recognize there is a real need for imaging and radiotherapy services specifically designed to meet the needs of companion animals," said Mark Skeels, DVM Dip. ABVP, a founder and board member of the Center. "Once veterinarians in the region realize what we can do, it will take their companion animal health care to another level."

The Center has invested in technology that exceeds that which is currently available in the veterinary field, along with the expertise necessary to ensure the right technology is utilized. Its centerpieces are a General Electric 1.5 Tesla Signa Advantage MRI, a GE Hi-Light Advantage CT, and a Siemens Mevatron 6740 Linear Accelerator. The MRI, used for soft tissue imaging, is three times the strength of other MRIs used for veterinary purposes in the region, which means the images it provides will be significantly sharper. Equally important, the time required to obtain the images is much shorter, which decreases the patient anesthesia time and increases safety. The CT scanner, appropriate for bone and thoracic imaging, offers the highest resolution imaging of any CT in veterinary use anywhere. The Linear Accelerator delivers radiation doses some 20 times faster than more commonly used cobalt units, sometimes eliminating entirely the need for any form of sedation.

"Our equipment borders on research level machinery," Skeels said. "The combination of this equipment and our staff's level of expertise cannot be matched. This brings veterinary medicine into the 21st century."

The Center also differs from other advanced imaging options in the region in that cases will always remain with the attending veterinarian, imaging will be done on an outpatient basis and interpretation will be handled by in-house staff experts. Its imaging equipment is also the highest quality available for veterinary use. "A few facilities scattered around the Northeast offer one or two of these services," Skeels said, "But we're the first to offer such a complete package of services at this level of quality."

For example, some facilities offer imaging services, but not on an outpatient basis and generally as case referrals, meaning the practicing vet releases the case to the hospital. Others provide MRI scanning, but without CT imaging or interpretation services by a board-certified radiologist. No others in the area can provide radiation therapy with oversight from a boarded radiation oncologist.