MRI Center expands for better patient care
MESA, Ariz. (Aug. 7, 2007) -- The Medical Imaging department at Banner Desert Medical Center expanded and updated its MRI area, now conveniently located inside the hospital on the first floor near Radiation Oncology.
The move, which brings MRI procedures in house for the first time in Banner Desert history, highlights Banner Desert's commitment to quality patient care. "We're pleased that our MRI service is now under the same roof with all of the other advanced services provided by the hospital," said Lori Garrett, MRI service line coordinator.
With the move to the new location, the department has established a MRI Center, adding a second MRI machine and expanding the space almost four times larger than the previous location.
The new MRI machine — the 1.5T GE Magnet — is the first of its kind in the Phoenix area. The new machine comes complete with High Definition technology, offering high resolution imaging to produce a more definitive diagnosis.
In addition, the new machine has advanced imaging software applications, including:
- Propeller, which dramatically reduces the sensitivity to patient motion and helps address the challenge of imaging pediatric patients, uncooperative or confused patients, as well as patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease;
- Lava, which is an advanced application for high-contrast liver and abdominal imaging. With this application, an entire liver can be imaged in a single breath hold;
- Cardiac imaging, which is a new application for Desert.
"By adding this new machine, we've significantly enhanced the quality and efficiency of our imaging services for patients," said David Price, associate administrator. "Not only will we be getting better images, we'll be doing it faster so exam times are shorter. This will enable us to increase from 500 to 1000 procedures per month," he said.
Price said future expansion plans include moving Nuclear Medicine from the second floor to the MRI Center and adding PET/CT scanning capabilities.
