Imaging the future
WORDS Liam Stretch
At Merivale’s Beyond Radiology, service and excellence is their hallmark. The premises at 225 Papanui Road is the second Beyond Radiology clinic in New Zealand, with the first located in Grafton, Auckland.
“Beyond Radiology’s ethos is about providing imaging and service excellence to both patients and referrers,” says Serena Hitchings, the Christchurch Practice Manager.
The success of Beyond is down to their highly skilled and compassionate team of clinicians, sonographers, imaging techs, and administrative staff, providing the highest level of quality and service,” according to Serena; with its clinician-led approach Beyond Radiology is striving for better health outcomes for patients.
“We provide a first-class service for our patients from start to finish, and we make the journey for them as smooth as possible.” This is reinforced by the company’s guiding values of dignity and respect, compassion, collaboration, trust, innovation, professionalism, and excellence.
Talking to several of those values is the state-of-the-art equipment housed within the clinic. The clinic has a complete suite of imaging modalities, including X-ray, CT, Ultrasound and MRI, with the latest technologically advanced scanners. These utilise some of the latest artificial intelligence technology, allowing for reduced scan time and the best imaging quality.
“The technology that we have offers exceptional definition, efficiency, and speed. We believe the MRI quality is the best available on the market. But machines can only do so much – it is the eyes and experience of our specialists who pin-point the answers, giving clear, efficient outcomes,” Serena says.
It enables doctors and surgeons to move forward with confidence and patients to feel empowered and comforted. The patient experience is of the highest standard and has been considered throughout the space, as the team understands the anxiety some might feel undertaking an imaging procedure. Walking into the practice, you’re greeted by natural wood and earth tones and warm lighting – which are carried throughout.
Clinician meetings and procedures are done in spacious, architecturally designed consult and scanning rooms.
“Often, patients can be a little nervous when they’re coming in for imaging investigations, and it helps to have a comfortable, calm, and relaxed space for them. It’s the small things, like the acoustic design, accessibility and free parking, that can make a difference to their overall experience.”
Other often overlooked details have also been attended to. For patients in the MRI or CT scanner rooms who may be nervously looking up, the ceilings in these rooms have beautiful floral panelling to put a patient at ease.
Perhaps their most important value is ‘dignity and respect’. Aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi (specifically the principles of partnership, participation, and protection), all patients are treated with compassion and efficiency, where explanations are forthcoming, respect is given, and hands are held.
By cutting through red tape, by smoothing out the process, Beyond Radiology aims to set new standards of patient care in New Zealand imaging.
beyondradiology.co.nz | 03 964 7459