A critical piece of diagnostic equipment at the new Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital (RSMH) was delivered and installed on January 11.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a cornerstone asset in any hospital imaging department. MRIs use a powerful magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed digital pictures of the inside of a patient's body. It is especially useful for soft structures such as organs or for areas of bleeding, and it is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions within the chest, abdomen and pelvis among other areas.
Riverside's investment in this state-of-the-art wide-bore MRI will pay off for patients in its comfort. Scan times are shorter, so the patient spends less time in the MRIs 'bore', or the hollow tube in the center of the machine. Additionally, the bore is shorter than traditional MRIs and is larger in diameter. This makes for a more comfortable patient experience without sacrificing image quality as can happen with open MRIs.
Riverside's new MRI was installed inside the Imaging Department in a shielded room which keeps the magnet from affecting other equipment nearby. The MRI suite was designed for privacy and includes a private changing room, bathroom and waiting area.
"We have the Cadillac of MRIs," stated Matthew Booth, Director of Imaging Services at RSMH. "Our patients are going love their MRI experience, and our physicians will love the image quality from this new machine. Our investment in this machine is just one way of many that Riverside is focusing on providing care that is comfortable for the patient. It's care the way we want our own family members to receive it – that is what guides us."