Hays, KS – The latest in MRI scanning is now available at HaysMed.  The GE Signa Artist 70 cm bore was installed over a two-month period and began operating in late October.  HaysMed is the first in Western Kansas to offer patients this leading-edge technology.

The equipment combines the latest advancement in MRI with sophisticated engineering of a 1.5T wide bore system.  The wide bore system is more spacious providing more head room with plenty of space between the machine and your body even for larger patients. Many people who are claustrophobic and feel uncomfortable in traditional MRI machines feel much more comfortable in the wide bore machine.

“It is truly a versatile system built with the patient in mind.” Said Lisa Dinkel, Director of Imaging.  “It redefines the imaging experience with feet-first comfort options and scan capabilities that continue to push the conventional limits of MRI.”

New features include shorter scan times, less noise for a quieter environment, a more comfortable bed and improved sharpness and detail in the finished images.  The HaysMed Foundation purchased a new Cinema Vision system which new features such as Roku TV, streaming music and Bluetooth pairing for patients’ entertainment during certain MRI exams.

MRI uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body, helping providers diagnose disease and injury and begin the most effective course of treatment. MRI is the gold standard, particularly for investigating conditions that affect soft tissue.

The new MRI enhances the ability to diagnose and begin treatment on breast and prostate cancer earlier.  Diffusion technology improves the accuracy of identifying acute ischemic brain lesions in patients who experienced a stroke.

The new system also features magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) vascular imaging which gives the ability to specifically look at the body’s blood vessels and is used to diagnose and evaluate conditions such as aneurysms. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) that can incorporate IV contrast dye to visualize the veins is also a component of the new MRI.  MRV assesses blood flow and detects detrimental abnormalities such as blood clots. Additional conditions this imaging technique could uncover are structural vein abnormalities, blood flow issues in the brain, and deep thrombosis in the veins.

In addition to the new system at the hospital,  the MRI at Hays Orthopedic Institute has been upgraded with new advanced features that will enhance images and allow for faster scan times.

“This all an investment in our community,” Dinkel said. “The new state-of-the-art MRI machine will make it easier for people to get high-quality scans close to home and get their results faster. Ensuring that our patients have access to high-quality medical imaging is essential to getting people the care they need when they need it.”