Thursday, July 25, 2024
London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre is Introducing Groundbreaking MRI Technology to Reduce Wait Times
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is proud to announce a significant advancement in medical imaging with the introduction of the MAGNETOM Free.Max 0.55T MRI. This innovative technology, with a lower-strength magnet, artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, a larger opening for patients, and a dedicated focus on serving less urgent cases, will help reduce wait times for patients while promoting inclusive care.
"Bringing this new MRI to LHSC underscores our commitment to high-quality care while making smart investments in technologies that impact the things we know matter most to our patients and families, like wait times," said David Musyj, Interim President and CEO, LHSC. "We are grateful to Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health for helping us to fund this new MRI technology, which raises the standard of diagnostic imaging and reflects our dedication to making advanced health care accessible.”
The Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Free.Max MRI increases LHSC’s capacity to see more patients more efficiently, significantly reducing wait times. It will be used for patients with less urgent needs who can visit and leave the hospital on the same day. Patients are currently being scheduled for August.
“This particular MRI machine provides high performance using a lower strength magnet with the latest AI technology to provide fast, high quality images of areas like the brain, the spine and the knee comparable to a regular MRI,” explained Dr. Narinder Paul, Department Head, Medical Imaging, LHSC. “With two 3T, two 1.5T and now a 0.55T MRI, our team can match patients with the machine that best suits their individual health-care needs.”
Housed in a self-contained unit connected to Victoria Hospital by an enclosed walkway, the MRI arrived on a flatbed in mid-June, was lifted into place using a crane, and did not require the usual construction and costs associated with creating space for an MRI. It significantly reduced the amount of time needed to operationalize an MRI, only requiring the standard one-month commissioning process from the time it arrived.
“As the first hospital in Canada to adopt this specific machine, LHSC reinforces its reputation as a leader in health-care innovation,” says Dr. Paul. “We are evaluating how this technology can reduce wait times and improve access to care.”
Key features and benefits:
- Efficiency and accessibility: By dedicating the MRI to non-urgent, non-emergent cases, we will be able to tightly schedule patients with no disruptions due to emergency cases, helping to significantly decrease wait times.
- Cost-effective installation and operation: The design of this scanner reduces the need for extensive structural modifications, lowering construction costs and time. The MRI machine has lower ongoing operational costs.
- Advanced features: Its lower-strength magnet offers distinct advantages for patients with metallic implants, while its larger opening provides a more spacious and comfortable patient experience. This should make the MRI experience more comfortable for claustrophobic and larger build patients. The AI-based automation component enables clear, efficient scans for patients with the longest wait times.
- Reliable year-round operation: Equipped to handle extreme temperatures, the scanner ensures dependable functionality throughout all seasons and is attached to Victoria Hospital by an enclosed walkway.
Media contact:
Jess Brady
Media Relations Consultant
London Health Sciences Centre
226-927-7486
media@lhsc.on.ca
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