Beaufort Memorial Hospital Upgrading to New MRI, Mobile MRI On-Site During Installation

The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) capabilities at Beaufort Memorial Hospital are undergoing an extensive upgrade, replacing existing technology with Canon Medical’s newest MRI system, the Encore Vantage Orian. During the expected four-month installation project, beginning on February 20, a mobile MRI unit will be placed in front of the Cochrane Heart Center to maintain imaging services for hospital patients.

MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body. MRI is a valuable tool for evaluating injuries, tumors and digestive disorders and is preferred for brain and spinal cord imaging due to the soft tissue detail.

“A relaxed patient is key in MRI. This new scanner has a larger bore to help with claustrophobia and accommodate larger patients. It also features a sound system that allows patients to listen to their favorite music,” said Robert Butcher, RT(R) (MR), Beaufort Memorial MRI Manager. “Those comforts combined with the unit’s faster scanning and noise reduction create a better patient experience, while providing the most advanced high-resolution imaging.”

Learn more about imaging services at Beaufort Memorial.