$2.7 million renovation transforms interventional radiology lab
The new IR lab now offers an ambient lighting experience designed to create a calming, open, stress-free environment for patients.
San Antonio, Texas — Methodist Hospital | Northeast celebrated the opening of its newly renovated Interventional Radiology (IR) lab, marking a significant milestone in the hospital’s commitment to innovative patient care. The $2.7 million renovation transforms the original lab, which served the community for more than 30 years, into a facility designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers.
Interventional Radiologist, Dr. John Stoll, who has been with the hospital since 1990, reflected with nostalgia and pride during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, "I was here 30 years ago to cut the ribbon when the original lab opened, and I am excited to be here today. I’m very happy with the new lab," said Dr. Stoll.
The new IR lab now offers an ambient lighting experience designed to create a calming, open, stress-free environment for patients. It also features an open floor plan, ample storage, and the latest equipment, including 3D CT imaging that allows for detailed reconstructions of blood vessels. This technology will assist in precise needle placement during procedures, enhancing the care provided to patients.
As a Level III Trauma Center, the hospital is equipped to handle an increasing number of emergency cases, and the new lab will help doctors reduce internal bleeding in trauma patients. The facility is also capable of performing complex embolization techniques and will see increased use in oncology for targeted chemotherapy delivery. “Radiology in general is a diagnostic function of a hospital, but with this technology it can be just as much about treatment as it is diagnosing,” said Erik Mahoney, Methodist Hospital | Northeast Interventional Radiology Supervisor.
For all its advances, the lab operates at a fraction of the radiation dose used by previous equipment. Radiation exposure is now reduced by 50% for staff and by two-thirds for patients. The technology is designed to grow with the hospital, ensuring that Methodist Hospital | Northeast remains at the forefront of patient care.
As the ceremony came to a close, Dr. Stoll shared a photo of himself and his team opening the original lab, creating a full-circle moment as he posed with the photo in the same spot in the newly renovated space.