New Diagnostic Center in Ramona

Charles Fraley (right) and Dennis Wilcox, M. D. (left) inspect the CT Scanner at the Ramona Medical Diagnostic Services center.

by Joan Renaud

As of Aug. 16, the new Ramona Medical Diagnostic Services center is open for business and welcoming patients.

Charles Fraley, president and certified radiologic technologist, worked more than two years to create a center that will provide diagnostic services to local patients in Ramona. Doctors no longer will have to send patients “down the hill” for an X-ray or ultrasound.

He can accept patients referred by most local healthcare providers and covered by many insurance plans.

Martin Roth, Certified Sonographer, demonstrates the Ultrasound equipment at Ramona Medical Diagnostic Services center.

Fraley, former radiology director of Sharp Chula Vista Hospital, enlisted the help of several people in the community to bring the services the center will provide to patients in Ramona and surrounding communities. He also was able to get a CT scanner, which will make it possible to do on-site CT scans.

Gary P. Spoto, M.D., of the Valley Radiology Group in Escondido, is the center’s medical director and contracted radiologist who will provide rapid reading of any and all images taken, and by October, his services should be available online.

Ultrasound, a service formerly unavailable in Ramona, now will be scheduled for twice-weekly visits by Martin Roth, a registered ultrasound sonographer. This will mean diagnosing disease and monitoring pregnancies routinely and locally.

A bone densitometer is installed and ready to use not only on a referral basis, but also on an independent pay-for-service basis, as long as patients provide the name of their treating physician. This procedure is one of the newest and considered one of the most dependable methods of determining bone health and well-being. It also is used to monitor the results of preventive measures during aging.

The center is at 1516 Main St., Suite 103, and will be open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Service also will be available on an as-needed basis for such things as high-school sporting events. For information, call the center at (760) 789-6118.