Specialties & Treatments
BayCare offers a full range of services for common and complex health needs. Learn more about our specialties and treatments.
St. Anthony’s Hospital One of First in Bay Area With Zero-Gravity Radiation Protection System
January 20, 2015
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (Jan. 20, 2015) - St. Anthony’s Hospital has become one of the first hospitals in the Tampa Bay area to install a new device to take some of the weight off physicians’ shoulders during lengthy interventional procedures. The new Zero-Gravity Suspended Radiation Protection System, which includes a body shield and clear face mask, offers physicians protection from radiation without the added weight of a heavy lead apron.
The shield and mask are suspended from a flexible arm on a track system on the ceiling in one of the hospital’s cardiac catheterization labs. The user wears a vest with a magnet on the front that connects to a magnet on the shield. As the physician moves, the shield moves along. The flexible arm carries the weight of the suit while giving the physician complete range of motion.
“Some of the cardiac catheterization procedures can take several hours,” said Amit Srivastava, MD, an interventional cardiologist who has used the Zero Gravity system since its installation in October 2014. “By not carrying the extra 15 to 20 pounds of a standard lead apron, I do not feel fatigued or suffer muscle strain and am able to continue through multiple procedures.”
St. Anthony’s Hospital offers advanced care through its cardiology program. The highly skilled team of cardiologists, surgeons and nurses is dedicated to providing compassionate care for every stage of treatment. St. Anthony’s offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment procedures through such services as extensive cardiac risk factor education; interventional and diagnostic cardiac catheterization; cardiac stress testing; and emergency and elective angioplasty.
For more information on St. Anthony’s and its many services, please visit our website at www.StAnthonys.org.
About St. Anthony’s Hospital
St. Anthony’s Hospital is a 393-bed hospital founded in 1931 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and was the first faith-based hospital in Pinellas County. The hospital continues its rich history dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing high-quality, innovative and compassionate care. St. Anthony’s has received the 2014 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement award. St. Anthony’s Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy Breast Center has received accreditation from both the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the American College of Radiology. For more information on St. Anthony’s, call (727) 953-6993.
About BayCare Health System
BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Comprised of a network of 12 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient’s lifetime. With more than 280 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need.
BayCare’s hospitals include: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph’s Children’s, St. Joseph’s Women’s, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South (opening in early 2015), South Florida Baptist and Winter Haven. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.
The shield and mask are suspended from a flexible arm on a track system on the ceiling in one of the hospital’s cardiac catheterization labs. The user wears a vest with a magnet on the front that connects to a magnet on the shield. As the physician moves, the shield moves along. The flexible arm carries the weight of the suit while giving the physician complete range of motion.
“Some of the cardiac catheterization procedures can take several hours,” said Amit Srivastava, MD, an interventional cardiologist who has used the Zero Gravity system since its installation in October 2014. “By not carrying the extra 15 to 20 pounds of a standard lead apron, I do not feel fatigued or suffer muscle strain and am able to continue through multiple procedures.”
St. Anthony’s Hospital offers advanced care through its cardiology program. The highly skilled team of cardiologists, surgeons and nurses is dedicated to providing compassionate care for every stage of treatment. St. Anthony’s offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment procedures through such services as extensive cardiac risk factor education; interventional and diagnostic cardiac catheterization; cardiac stress testing; and emergency and elective angioplasty.
For more information on St. Anthony’s and its many services, please visit our website at www.StAnthonys.org.
About St. Anthony’s Hospital
St. Anthony’s Hospital is a 393-bed hospital founded in 1931 as a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and was the first faith-based hospital in Pinellas County. The hospital continues its rich history dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing high-quality, innovative and compassionate care. St. Anthony’s has received the 2014 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement award. St. Anthony’s Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy Breast Center has received accreditation from both the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the American College of Radiology. For more information on St. Anthony’s, call (727) 953-6993.
About BayCare Health System
BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Comprised of a network of 12 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient’s lifetime. With more than 280 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need.
BayCare’s hospitals include: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph’s Children’s, St. Joseph’s Women’s, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South (opening in early 2015), South Florida Baptist and Winter Haven. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.
###