New CT Scanner Reopens Lower Keys Medical Center Diagnostic Services

Lower Keys Medical Center and the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce celebrated the reopening of the hospital CT room on November 13, 2025 with a ribbon cutting to showcase a newly installed computed tomography scanner. The event highlights an investment in local diagnostic capacity that health leaders say will increase access to imaging services for residents of Key West and the wider Monroe County area.

Computed tomography scanners combine x ray and computer technology to produce two dimensional and three dimensional images of the inside of the body, including organs, blood vessels, bones, and soft tissues. The new unit at Lower Keys Medical Center is intended to reduce the time each scan requires and to improve image clarity. Hospital officials describe the upgraded system as expanding the facility ability to perform cardiovascular and neurological testing, while also providing clinicians with access to AI enhanced tools to support diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Faster scan times mean the hospital can schedule and serve more patients each day, which could reduce wait times for urgent and routine imaging. For Monroe County residents who previously needed to travel to regional centers for advanced scans, the local availability of higher quality CT imaging may spare additional travel time and associated costs. The expansion is expected to support both emergency care and ongoing management of chronic conditions that rely on detailed imaging.

The installation marks a step forward in modernizing the hospital diagnostic suite and aligns with broader trends in medical imaging that emphasize speed, resolution, and integration of advanced software. By improving the sharpness of images, radiologists and clinicians can better detect subtle changes in heart vessels, brain structures, and other critical anatomy. The incorporation of AI enhanced tools is aimed at helping providers identify patterns and prioritize findings, while final clinical decision making remains with trained medical staff.

The chamber announcement accompanying the ribbon cutting included a photograph and a list of local leaders who attended the ceremony. The collaboration between the hospital and the chamber reflects community level support for health care infrastructure investments that directly affect patient care.

As the hospital brings the new CT scanner into routine use, officials say scheduling and referral procedures will be updated and communicated to local providers and patients. For residents of Monroe County, the upgrade represents a tangible improvement in local medical services, with potential benefits for emergency response, specialist referrals, and everyday diagnostic needs.