Monday, May 12, 2008

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Adds New In-House Magnetic Resonace Imaging Service For Patients

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH) recently added a new in-house magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service to its Department of Radiology. The new MRI will replace the mobile unit and provide patients MRI services without leaving the hospital.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that produces very clear images of the human body without the use of harmful x-rays. MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce these images. The new MRI has much higher resolution and state-of-the-art imaging of the brain and upper and lower extremities. The room the MRI is housed in has windows and is much more spacious, making patients feel more at ease about undergoing the examination.

“Our new in-house MRI offers the latest state-of-the-art technology to our patients and will make the experience more comfortable for them” said Roly Alvarez, manager of the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Department of Radiology. “Most patients are nervous before undergoing the MRI, but with it being in-house, especially in a big room with lots of windows, we are able to ease their potential claustrophobia and take them through the procedure step-by-step before they actually enter the scanner.”

Since February, the PMH Department of Radiology has seen about 200 patients a month for an MRI exam. Patients should allow an hour, however the MRI exam usually only takes about 30 to 45 minutes, during which a technologist can obtain several dozen images. The results are usually available to the physician within 24 hours, who can then discuss the results with the patient. PMH provides MRI exams Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Physician referral is required.

For more information on the new MRI or Piedmont Mountainside Hospital’s Radiology services, call 706-301-5401 or visit www.piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

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