Advanced Technology

Advanced Technology

A Sign of Excellence: Advanced Technology

Advanced technology and innovation are strong indicators of quality and excellence. They can go a long way toward setting a healthcare provider apart from its peers. Advances are important because introducing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical techniques and new computerized work processes play a significant role in improving patient outcomes. 

Sacred Heart Hospital believes innovation, advanced technology and quality attract highly skilled professionals in order to serve you better. This synergy of technology and the best and brightest people provides you with comprehensive services for excellent care, close to home.

Medical Breakthroughs 

You can trust us to continually invest in state-of-the-art technology to consistently bring the latest in medical breakthroughs to the region. We proudly offer many new and innovative treatment options, because they continue to provide our patients with improved outcomes and a better quality of life.

From robotic-assisted surgery and new minimally invasive techniques to advanced wireless monitoring, it is a commitment that is bringing greater hope and healing to our region.

Recent “Firsts” for our Region

A few of our recent pioneering “firsts” include:

  • Launched in Fall 2009, Sacred Heart Hospital is the first hospital in the region and one of only a handful in the country to offer intra-operative CT capabilities for neurosurgery. This system is our hospital’s second “Smart OR®” and ensures that spinal implants are ideally positioned during complex spinal surgery. The iCT suite is also used for trauma surgery. This minimally invasive technology is fully integrated with the BrainLAB® surgical mapping system. With the new iCT Smart OR, our surgeons have access to real-time images of their progress during complex spinal surgeries – which enables them to confirm with the utmost confidence that each implant is placed perfectly in the spine while the patient is still in on the operating table – essentially reducing the re-operation rate to zero.
  • Launched in June 2009, Sacred Heart Hospital is the first hospital in the region to offer the Dual Source CT Scanner, which offers unrivaled three-dimensional imaging quality, enabling physicians to detect tumors and malformations with absolute accuracy - in a shorter time frame and with less radiation than a standard CT scan. The Dual Source eliminates the need for a biopsy or exploratory surgery in some cases, and is the latest advance in clinical CT technology.
  • Launched October 2008, Sacred Heart Hospital opened its Smart OR surgical suite. Our hospital is one of a very few in the country to have this amazing system for brain, spine and trauma patients. We are the first hospital in Wisconsin and the first hospital ever of our size to have both a BrainSUITE® with IMRIS intra-operative MRI (iMRI), and BrainSUITE intra-operative CT (iCT) Smart OR suites for neurosurgery, spine and trauma patients.
  • Launched in August 2007, Sacred Heart is the first hospital in the region to offer advanced on-site PCR laboratory tests to detect the DNA of MRSA. The rapid test protects patients by identifying MRSA so that special procedures can prevent infection and transmission. PCR stands for “polymerase chain reaction,” a technique for isolating, replicating and amplifying a fragment of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) DNA. Until recently, this advanced molecular and biochemical technology was only available in research laboratories.
  • Beginning in December 2006 and early 2007, da Vinci® robotic surgical prostatectomies and hysterectomies were performed at Sacred Heart Hospital, the first of their kind in the region. da Vinci® incorporates the latest minimally invasive advances in robotic assisted technology for faster patient recoveries and better outcomes.
  • Our Center for Imaging, a $25-million investment in technology and facilities, provides you with the largest and most comprehensive radiology facility between Minneapolis and Madison.
  • Sacred Heart Hospital is the only hospital in the region to perform a highly advanced stroke treatment called intra-arterial thrombolysis, a procedure that directly attacks blood clots in the brain.
  • A new 3.0 Tesla MRI is the most powerful clinical magnet in the industry and the only instrument in the region.
  • With the introduction of Infinity HealthCare physicians in our Emergency Medical & Trauma Center in May 2007, Sacred Heart Hospital now has the only all board-certified/eligible emergency department staff between Madison and Minneapolis.
  • Sacred Heart Hospital brought the first CT scanner and the first MRI to northern Wisconsin.