BACKGROUNDER:
EPIC IMAGING|EAST, P.C.
Gerald L. Warnock, M.D., Medical Director

For more information:
Athena Maris
503.236.3486
athena@marisagency.com


Overview
EPIC Imaging|East is the most comprehensive outpatient diagnostic imaging facility in Oregon. It offers all the major imaging technologies and is often referred to as "the gold standard" for imaging services in the community. It currently employs 13 staff radiologists and 153 healthcare workers.

Historically, the center has accepted all major insurance plans and has been a respected provider for Providence insurance panels and Providence-controlled health plans since their inception.

EPIC's business model is based on a simple principle: combine the most advanced diagnostic imaging technology available with the best in patient care and service. EPIC Imaging|East features:

    • 64 Detector CT scanning

    • All major MRI types including a high-field open scanner, state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla short bore scanner and one of the few 3.0 Tesla scanners in the area

    • Digital Mammography with CAD (Computer Aided Diagnosis)

    • Ultrasound

    • Digital Fluoroscopy

    • Bone Density Scanning

    • Nuclear Medicine

    • Combination PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography)

By housing all major technologies under one roof, EPIC Imaging patients have the unique ability to move immediately from one technology to another if diagnosis would be better served with a different procedure or if one test reveals the need for a more targeted study.

History
The driving force behind the EPIC Imaging family of centers is Dr. Gerald L. Warnock, its founder and medical director. Over the years he has been a pioneer in bringing state-of-the art imaging technology to our community and is a leader in quality patient care.

The comprehensive facility we know today had rather humble beginnings. In 1964, following his military service, Dr. Warnock purchased East Portland X-Ray Clinic, a small four year old radiology office with two x-ray machines. He gained distinction tackling difficult specialties in radiology and within eight years moved to bigger offices and expanded into mammography. East Portland Imaging Center was born.

In 1982, a revolutionary new technology was introduced in radiology, Computed Tomography (CT). CT offered a whole new way of looking at medical imaging and promised to have a profound impact on the early diagnosis of disease. Despite the new machine's hefty price tag, Dr. Warnock acquired the first non-hospital based CT scanner in the state. Two years later, when Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) emerged as a powerful diagnostic tool for soft tissue imaging, Dr. Warnock installed one of the first MRI scanners in the Pacific Northwest and operated it for nearly a year before any of the local hospitals purchased scanners.

East Portland Imaging Center has grown to become EPIC Imaging, a family of outpatient imaging facilities consisting of EPIC Imaging|East, P.C., EPIC Imaging|West, Inc., The Portland PET Center, EPIC Imaging|ENT and EPIC Imaging|Cardiac.

Today EPIC continues to lead the way in outpatient imaging and innovation in the science of diagnostic imaging. It now features every major imaging technology available and takes its responsibility to the community very seriously. In 2004, EPIC Imaging|East provided imaging studies with a value of $339,000 at no cost or greatly reduced cost to indigent patients.

Notable Events
1959
• Dr. Louis Frische, M.D. establishes East Portland X-Ray Clinic

1964
• Dr. Gerald Warnock, M.D. purchases the clinic

1982
• Acquisition of the first non-hospital based CT scanner in Oregon

1983
• EPIC becomes one of the first non-hospital based nuclear medicine facilities to be licensed by the Oregon Health Division

1984
• Acquisition of one of the first MRI scanners in the Northwest

1991
• The center adds a second MRI unit

1994
• EPIC becomes the first facility in the Portland metropolitan community to receive certification for mammography by the American College of Radiology

• The center acquires one of the first Spiral CT scanners in the region

1995
• Certification received for mammography from the Food & Drug Administration

1996
• Acquisition of a new high field MRI unit

1998
• Acquisition of the first Superconductive Open MRI in Oregon

• EPIC receives certification for stereotactic mammography biopsy by the American College of Radiology

1999
• EPIC acquires the next generation MRI Scanner, the Siemens Symphony, Open Architecture High Field Short Bore

• Acquisition of the first dedicated PET scanner in Oregon and founding of The Portland PET Center.

• East Portland Imaging Center officially becomes EPIC Imaging

2000
• EPIC Imaging|West opens in Beaverton

• EPIC Imaging|ENT, the head and neck imaging division of EPIC, is founded

• EPIC acquires CT Quad Detection system for rapid Spiral CT Scanning

• Acquisition of the first digital mammography units in Oregon

2001
• Acquisition of the first High Field Open MRI in the region

2002
• Acquisition of the first non-hospital based 3.0 Tesla MRI

2003
• Acquisition of 16 detector CT

• First facility in Portland to install a PET/CT scanner

• First facility in the region to acquire the Suros ATEC, MRI guided breast biopsy system.

2004
• EPIC Imaging|Cardiac division founded to provide advanced, non-invasive cardiac imaging

• Acquisition of Siemens Avanto for advanced Cardiac MRI and non-invasive vascular imaging

2005
• Acquisition of one of the first 64 detector CT scanners in the area with important new coronary angiography capabilities

• Selected by Toshiba as beta test site for its Ultrasound software and hardware including Aplio 80's and Xario.

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