New MRIs at two Premier Health hospitals boost power, image quality and research hopes for physicians, scientists and patients in the Dayton region
DAYTON, OH (February 26, 2015) – Miami Valley Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital (closed in 2018) are upgrading their MRI capability with new scanners that provides twice the magnetic power of its current MRIs as well as other features designed to improve image quality, patient comfort and clinical results. Recently installed at Miami Valley Hospital, the same technology will be available at Miami Valley Hospital North in June. This is the first GE Healthcare Discovery MR750w 3.0T(1) scanner to be placed at an adult hospital in Dayton.
“The 3T MRI allows us to do different types of examinations and high-resolution studies that we couldn’t do previously with the 1.5T MRI,” says Dr. Shane Smith, a board-certified radiologist and chair of medical imaging for MVH. “The scanner’s software is unique for advanced neurological applications, and it will improve our imaging capabilities for small musculoskeletal structures, as well as for organs, such as the eyes, ears, heart and prostate gland.”
“The addition of state-of-the-art 3T MRI at Miami Valley Hospital North is part of our ongoing effort to use the best technology available. 3T will improve patient care, quality and comfort,” says Dr. Bruce Hall, neuroradiologist for Good Samaritan Hospital and president of Medical Radiologists Inc. “From neurology to orthopedic imaging, we will be able to detect and diagnose a range of health issues faster and more effectively than ever.”
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure using magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the body’s organs and structures. The “T” in 3T MRI stands for “Tesla,” which refers to the strength of the magnet used to produce the diagnostic images.
While safe and painless, the MRI’s tunnel-like container and buzzing, hammering noise can make some patients feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. The 3T model is slightly larger than the 1.5T model and boasts features to enhance comfort, including a “silence” option for some scans and “cinema glasses” that allow the patient to watch television or a DVD during a procedure.
Obtaining the two 3T MRI is in line with Premier Health’s strategy to improve neuroscience research and clinical care in the Dayton region. Premier, the region’s largest health network
with five hospitals and several other healthcare entities, aligned with Wright State University in 2010 to form the Wright State University & Premier Health Neuroscience Institute. The institute aims to speed the transfer of research discoveries from bench to bedside and improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.
Dr. Bryan Ludwig, Chair, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – Wright State University BSOM/Premier Health and Division Chief of NeuoInterventional Surgery-CNSI and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, says the 3T is particularly beneficial for pathological conditions involving the brain, spine and neuromuscular system.
“We will use this scanner to allow us to continue to lead the neurosciences with novel
treatments — proven and experimental — that offer safer and more precise medical and surgical treatment to diseases such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, brain tumors, stroke and brain aneurysms. Another added benefit to note is the increased magnet strength of the 3T yields shorter scan times, which will improve the imaging experience for our patients.”