Ultrasound Services Expanded to Accommodate Growing Patient Needs

  • March 30, 2026
Sonographer Brittany Knapp performs a maternal fetal medicine scan for a patient using the new general ultrasound system recently acquired by Brookings Health. The health system recently added two additional ultrasound systems, one for general ultrasonography and one for cardiovascular echocardiograms. The investments allow Brookings Health to accommodate the region’s growing need for cardiac, vascular and obstetrics diagnostic testing, keeping patient care options local.
Sonographer Brittany Knapp performs a maternal fetal medicine scan for a patient using the new general ultrasound system recently acquired by Brookings Health. The health system recently added two additional ultrasound systems, one for general ultrasonography and one for cardiovascular echocardiograms. The investments allow Brookings Health to accommodate the region’s growing need for cardiac, vascular and obstetrics diagnostic testing, keeping patient care options local.

To accommodate the region’s growing needs for cardiac, vascular and obstetrics diagnostic testing, Brookings Health System has added both a cardiovascular and a general ultrasound system to its radiology department. 

“By adding a second cardiovascular ultrasound system plus another general ultrasound system, we are able to better accommodate clinical providers’ and patients’ needs for diagnostic imaging,” said Director of Imaging and Respiratory Services Nicole Winseman. “This aligns with our organization’s strategy to support service line growth and keep patient care options local.”

In addition to the new equipment, the radiology department has already added a new echocardiography-trained sonographer and is looking to hire an additional general sonographer.

The additional Philips EPIQ CVx cardiovascular ultrasound system is preferred by regional cardiologists to visualize the heart’s anatomy. The new system, which is designed specifically to diagnose heart disease, allows Brookings Health’s radiology department to take photorealistic echocardiograms, moving ultrasounds that show the heart’s structure and function. Echocardiography paired with a nuclear stress test to see how blood flows creates a more comprehensive picture of the patient’s heart. Knowing the heart’s structure and function as well as visualizing any blockages can determine if the patient has coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease or another condition.

The additional GE Fortis ultrasound system produces clear images with more detail in all areas of the body, but especially for maternal fetal medicine scans and abdominal organ scans. For maternal fetal medicine, the new ultrasound system offers improved color doppler to show more precise blood flow in the fetal heart. This helps more accurately detect congenital heart defects. For obstetrics patients, that means higher quality diagnostic images can be captured locally in Brookings. The advanced system also offers better penetration to create clearer images of deeper structures. This added depth and clarity can aid in improving the resolution of internal organ conditions such as liver or kidney lesions. In some cases, it may help patients avoid further testing through other modalities. The improved penetration also helps with obtaining more detailed images in bariatric patients. 

Brookings Health System’s radiology department offers the most comprehensive clinical imaging capabilities in Brookings. Local patients can also receive MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy and X-ray procedures close to home, saving them time and money. Images can be shared with any medical provider from any health organization. For more information, please visit brookingshealth.org/Imaging.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic & Optical, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, municipal health system that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency and extended care services. Brookings Hospital provides local access to doctors in Brookings and offers robotic da Vinci surgery and Mako robotic-arm assisted procedures, making it one of the premier rural community hospitals in South Dakota. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.