Memphis, Tenn., Mar. 1, 2000 - Baptist Memorial Hospital-East is the first hospital in the Mid-South selected to introduce a new gastroenterology diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that has been shown to reduce patients' exposure to radiation by up to 30 percent.

The Endoscopic Retrograde Cyholangipancreatography Rapid Exchange procedure is an improvement of the present ERCP procedure, which allows physicians to view and remove obstructions of the common bile duct or pancreatic duct from cancer, gall stones or other barriers.

Five physicians - Paul Bierman, M.D.; Edward Cattau Jr., M.D.; Michael Dragutsky, M.D.; John Ward, M.D.; and Rolando Leal, M.D. - are approved to perform the ERCP Rapid Exchange procedure during the initial trial run at Baptist East.

"Being selected to introduce a new technology that will make things easier for our patients is an honor and a reflection on the high quality of our medical staff," said Steve Mansfield, Baptist East administrator and CEO. "Without innovative techniques and treatment, advancing medical care is impossible. Through techniques like the ERCP Rapid Exchange procedure, we can continue to provide the best patient care."

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Baptist East was built in 1979 and has grown from a community hospital featuring obstetrical services to a full-service tertiary care hospital with a full spectrum of specialties. Mid-Southerners recently named Baptist East their preferred hospital in a National Research Corp. survey, making 1999 Baptist East's fourth consecutive year to win the NRC's Consumer Choice Award.

For more information on the ERCP Rapid Exchange procedure, call 226-5561.

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