MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is the first North Country hospital to install and bring on-line a system that allows cardiologists on-site or in a remote location to access tests.

The VidiStar system allows the doctors to view results of nuclear stress tests, echocardiograms, stress labs, ekgs, holter monitoring and outpatient blood pressure monitors.

“This is a real time web based digital read and report system that enables the completion of Cardiology test from anywhere that the internet is accessible; it is state-of-the-art,” said Joseph Gardella, MMH cardiologist. “This system is a quantum leap beyond, the imaging and the time required to generate a report of a diagnostic test is cut in half. This system decreases the work load and increases the productivity which is better continuity of care for the patient.”

“The turnaround time from cardiologist’s report to primary care physician is phenomenal,” according to Abraham Day, MMH network administrator and engineer. “This system is changing the work flow. This new technology allows the cardiologist the ability to read the diagnostic test, sign off and offer the referring physician immediately reports, diagnostic images and video electronically.”

Massena Memorial Hospital’s VidiStar implementation team includes Gardella, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital cardiologist Nidal Makhoul, along with Abraham Day, Matt Martin and Tom Vida, MMH ultrasound technologist.