New Patient-Friendly MRI Now Available

PALM COAST, Fla., May 6, 2016 In March, Florida Hospital Flagler used a large crane to install a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Now that MRI is up and running and available for use.

Our new MRI is unique in that it combines the ability to capture high-quality diagnostic images with a larger bore, or opening, that's large enough to accommodate a NFL lineman, said Dawn Durso, Florida Hospital Flagler imaging director. This provides a more comfortable experience for patients, especially those who are claustrophobic and uncomfortable in tight, confined spaces. Traditionally, patients who couldn't tolerate the restrictive space of a MRI would have their image studies performed in an open MRI system with low-field magnets. This would unfortunately limit the usefulness of the images obtained.

The Siemens 1.5T MAGNETOM Aera with Tim at Florida Hospital Flagler has an opening of nearly 2.3 feet in diameter and almost a foot of free space between a patients head and the magnet. In addition, the Palm Coast hospitals MRI features the shortest 1.5 Tesla magnet available. At approximately four feet long, this allows more than 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patients head outside the machine, helping to ease patients claustrophobia and provide a better overall experience for patients.

The design of this MRI is more patient-friendly than traditional MRIs, said Durso. Additionally, the new MRI has noise reduction software, so it will be a lot quieter for our patients, which can help decrease any anxiety patients may feel during this diagnostic test.

In addition to this new MRI, Florida Hospital Flagler offers an array of the industry's most advanced medical imaging technologies, both at the hospital and at the Parkway Medical Plaza outpatient facility, located off of Palm Coast Parkway. At both locations, Florida Hospital Flagler offers a complete range of imaging services, from X-rays to fluoroscopy, to PET-CTs and nuclear medicine.

About Florida Hospital Flagler

Florida Hospital Flagler is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 99-beds, Florida Hospital Flagler is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 899 beds and nearly 5,900 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements.