Quantum Radiology Featured in Cobb Living

- Dr. Alan Zuckerman, president of Quantum Radiology

For years, radiologists have been behind the scenes in the delivery of health care. Most patients will never know their names; radiologists, however, play an important role in health care decision-making, charged, as they are, with interpreting the results of diagnostic tests to assist  physicians in establishing a diagnosis.

At Marietta-based Quantum Radiology, it is the practice’s commitment to medical excellence as well as its partnership with WellStar Health System in an investment in cutting-edge technology that makes it unique among radiology groups. “Quantum—and WellStar—offer patients access to radiology resources in their own communities that are rarely seen outside of an academic medical center or teaching and research hospital,” confirms Dr. Alan Zuckerman, president of Quantum Radiology. With 38 radiologists, every radiology subspecialty is represented in the practice, and many of the group’s radiologists are nationally known.

The practice is active in a number of roles that would normally not be associated with a private radiology practice, including teaching and research. Quantum offers three cardiac imaging courses, which have been attended by more than 300 physicians from around the world. Such programs have generally been limited to the academic world, but Quantum has changed that model, says radiologist Jay Cinnamon, because the practice has such an unusual depth of clinical expertise, as well as the equipment and partnerships with major technology manufacturers such as AGFA and Philips and Toshiba Medical Systems.

 “Thanks to progressive, forward-thinking o­n the part of WellStar’s administrators, the system has invested in some very sophisticated radiology equipment over the last three or four years,” Cinnamon says. This, in fact, was what lured Cinnamon away from his teaching position at Emory to Quantum and WellStar four years ago. “I came, knowing that I would be able to do everything in private practice that I was doing in the academic environment—and perhaps be able to do even more.”

Another aspect of Quantum’s practice that is not generally found in radiology practices is its centralized 3-D Lab, or post-processing lab, headed by chief technologist Jeff Kostick,  where images are interpreted. “It’s like taking good ingredients and making them into a fine meal,” Cinnamon explains. “The images from all our instruments and technologies have to be translated into meaningful, reliable diagnoses.” The environment at the 3-D Lab is much like that of a think tank where the highly skilled staff of technologists is constantly exploring new software to ensure that interpretations and diagnoses are as accurate as possible and to ensure consistent results from patient to patient. “We’re increasingly invited to lecture around the country o­n how we achieve the level of accuracy and consistency that we have,” Cinnamon adds. Located at Kennestone Hospital, the lab handles the post-processing for all WellStar imaging facilities.

Even with all of these accomplishments, Quantum radiologists pride themselves the most o­n being patient-focused and providing ethical and compassionate care. “We treat patients as if they were our own family members,” Cinnamon says.

Quantum Radiology services are available through several WellStar hospitals and at WellStar outpatient diagnostic centers.