14 | Taranaki: Taranaki Radiology REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Sue Russell Patient care underpins practice’s work Dr Alina Leigh, one of three directors at Taranaki Radiology. “We are all over the place working from six locations and we love it.” There’s a theme that comes through the conversation with Dr Alina Leigh, one of three directors at Taranaki Radiology, and that is simply that placing care of patients and care of staff at the top of the priorities is pivotal to the practice’s culture. Alina, along with Drs Dana Tipene-Hook and Maren Krueger, lead a team of radiologists, medical imaging technicians, sonographers, radiology assistants, admin and support staff and the one thing they all have in common is a deep commitment to fully live the word ‘care’. “It’s vital that, as a practice we reflect our shared values of caring for our patients throughout their time with us and that we also look after each other. I consider everyone here to be part of our family and those family values are what guide us in our busy day to day work,” Alina explains. And ‘dynamic’ doesn’t really do justice to how busy the practice is, working from a number of locations in New Plymouth and surrounds. “We are all over the place working from six locations and we love it. It means we can reach people better. I’m very proud of the team who work with such professionalism day in day out. It’s what the success of our practice has been built on without a doubt.” The practice established in 2016, having split from a joint venture with Taranaki Hospital based at Fulford Clinic. When that restructuring took place Alina, Dana and Maren seized the opportunity to buy Magnet House in Vivian Street, New Plymouth. It’s in this gracious home that the 3T MRI scanner is situated. The scanner, one of only a few in the country was a big financial commitment but one the directors chose, in order to get the best in the world imaging technology on offer. At Fulford Clinic, Mammography, Ultrasound and CT Scanning services are provided. Staff also conduct X-Ray clinics at Medicross, Phoenix Doctors and Stratford Health Centre. An on-call x-ray service is provided at weekends and public holidays for Medicross Urgent Care patients. Intraoperative imaging is provided at Southern Cross Hospital. Alina says that another reason the practice has evolved from strength to strength is the flexibility and wide skill-set of the staff, with everyone engaged having at least two strings to their bow. “It means if we’re short somewhere, for whatever reasons, we have another team member who can step in. “We’re also a very broad group in terms of ethnicity, cultural background and personality types which I think is a strength.” She’s especially proud of the fact that staff have wanted to stay in the practice, only leaving if they’re moving out of the region or overseas. Taranaki Radiology also assists those training in the profession to gain experience by working with a trained professional. Asked why they chose the 3 Tesla MRI equipment Alina says it really shone above other options in terms of providing ‘exquisite’ prostate imaging. It’s from humble beginnings that Alina progressed through schooling to undertake her basic medical, followed by specialist radiology trainings – a pathway straddling more than a decade. “I realised that I liked looking at X-Rays and could see the detail in them well. “I also was attracted to radiology because the disciplines straddle a patients whole life, from foetus to the elderly and I like that engagement.” Celebrating the fact that running a private practice offers a freedom to ‘steer your own ship’ more than in the public context, is another reason Alina and fellow directors chose to establish Taranaki Radiology. “It’s quite unusual to have a practice where all the directors are female too. “I think women engage in different ways in leadership roles and that culture permeates through the whole practice.” Hanging on her office wall is a plaque carrying words from author, environmentalist and conservationist, Douglas Adams, that reads: ‘To give real service you must add something that cannot be bought or measured with money and that is sincerity and integrity’. “I like those words, they carry a lot of meaning to me and I believe they are true.” And giving back to the community is not overlooked either, with the annual meeting of the directors deciding which charities they will support. “It’s our way of contributing to the health, well-being and development of this wonderful region.” If there is one final message Alina would like to give, it’s this. “Ladies, please check your breasts and have yearly screening mammograms from age 40. Gentlemen, please get your prostate and PSA level checked with your GP.”
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