New Edge Diagnostics started out as a thought exercise on sonographer Roche Wolfe’s kitchen table.

When she opened her doors she was not all that confident things would work out.

“Every entrepreneur looks at starting a business as a risk,” the managing director said. “However, once the rewards start coming in, the risks start to diminish.”

Five years later, New Edge Diagnostics is doing really well, she said.

“I never thought it would grow so fast,” Ms Wolfe said. “New Edge is a little bit different with a relaxing environment and pleasant faces at the front desk.”

The business offers a range of ultrasound services, including scans of the abdomen, liver and leg veins to pelvic and gynaecological scans. They also do scans for patients preparing for in vitro fertilisation treatment abroad.

Ms Wolfe is doing so well that she just moved the business to a bigger and brighter facility and has added a new GE Definium Pace X-ray machine. Since powering it up in February the business has served around 400 X-ray clients, walk-in (by referral) and by appointment.

Ms Wolfe said GE Healthcare had very specific requirements before it would install the equipment for them. Preparing for the machine took several months.

“It was definitely a task,” she said. “Everything had to be leaded out. The ceiling had to be a certain height. We were working with the Department of Planning as well. It was a stressful time, but we made it.”

“We are just trying to provide another option for healthcare,” said Tracy Masters, clinical director of X-ray services.

She said getting the new machine operating was an amazing experience.

“We did so much planning around this room,” she said. “It felt great to see it in its final state and to actually utilise it. It was amazing. Building it from the ground up was very rewarding.”

The X-ray machine uses a digital system that produces images that can be sent overseas for interpretation. When a fracture is suspected, the clinic can request an urgent reading and pass the information to the patient’s doctor, who can determine whether further care is needed. The newer technology also allows staff to limit the area exposed during an X-ray.

To celebrate the move and expansion, the clinic will be holding a grand opening and cocktail party for friends, family and medical community partners on Friday.