MRI renovations continue in Radiology

Lisa, Clinical Manager Radiology, and Sasha, Charge MRI Medical Imaging Technologist, stand outside the door to the MRI machine at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Whanganui.

The MRI machine behind this door (we can't enter with a phone) has been in use for 20 years, scanning an average of 200 people per month, which adds up to a whooping 48,000 scans - is on the road to retirement - and it deserves it!

Renovations for that to happen, are well underway and on track to go live in September of this year. We're excited to be replacing our current workhorse with a state of the art, Tesla MRI scan 1.5. This new machine offers a marked improvement in diagnostic quality (how clear the pictures are), allowing our radiologists to see much more detail in the images, and in some cases, the advances in technology will even allow for a faster scan.

Lisa, Clinical Manager Radiology, has worked here for over 17 years and is impressed with the size of the new scanner. "Our patients won’t be as claustrophobic inside this scanner which will make a huge difference to their experience. The tech' has improved dramatically since our old machine was installed, so our radiographers will see significant changes in how long it takes to scan some of our patients, plus they'll be working with clearer images enabling a more accurate diagnosis."

For those wondering exactly how much of a difference will the new machine offer, Sasha, Charge MRI Medical Imaging Technologist, said, 'It will be like looking at an old tv then upgrading to a 4K, high-definition, plasma screen, you’ll notice some changes!"

Sasha, has spent 11 years working with our current MRI machine. "We deal with quite unwell and nervous patients, empathy and patience are a must for our Radiology team. The whole experience for any patient needs to be positive, to ensure that best quality results are achieved - every time. Having this bigger machine will help, in particular our larger patients, feel less restricted which can help reduce those anxious feelings associated with an MRI."

As renovations continue we'll update on their progress. For now, the space for the new machine (which will be coming in through the roof), is being prepared. Most important to note, our community won't be without an MRI scanner at any stage because the new machine will be up and running long before our 'old faithful' officially retires.