JOI Mobile PET/CT Coordinator Patricia (L) and PET/CT technologist Virginia (R) in front of the JOI Mobile PET/CT scanner.

Science, technology, and the human body are pretty incredible. Take this state-of-the-art scan available through Jefferson Outpatient Imaging for example. It’s called PET/CT and uses sugar in the body that can help detect cancer earlier than conventional imaging. Even better? JOI has a mobile PET/CT to make the procedure accessible and available to more people in more locations.

PET/CT is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure. Sugar (glucose) tracers used in a PET/CT scan accumulate more in cancerous cells than in normal tissue. Thus, they appear as “hot spots” on the image.

Diagnostic scans can be intimidating, but JOI’s team does their very best to make it a comfortable, easy experience for patients. Having the mobile PET/CT is a big part of that. You no longer need to come into the city. Instead, you can make an appointment at any one of the six locations the mobile PET/CT visits in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, including Jefferson Outpatient Imaging in East Norriton every Monday and every other Wednesday.

In addition, the friendly and experienced staff at JOI is there to put you at ease. Lauren, a Mobile PET/CT technologist of 11 years, had this to say about making patients comfortable:

“I think explaining the entire process so patients know what to expect helps a lot.  Also, just the comfort of a smile goes a long way too.  We can also play music for patients to help them relax!”

When asked what she’d want nervous patients to know, Lauren offered,

“I’d want to assure them that we can see and hear them during the entire study; We can also stop the study if they choose. With really nervous patients, I like to show them the machine first so they can get a better idea of what to expect.”

To schedule an appointment, call 1-866-JEFF-PET.

For more information, visit JeffersonHealth.org/JOI.