MRI & X-RAY

Services Provided

We offer both Digital X-rays and open MRI on site for the convenience of our patients. MRI, short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is radiation-free and produces detailed three-dimensional images of the body. Patients with claustrophobia may feel uncomfortable in a traditional or closed MRI unit because they must lie still inside a narrow tunnel. Our open MRI unit which is accredited by the American College of Radiology, does not enclose the patient within a narrow tunnel and eliminates this problem.

How Do I Prepare For An MRI?

On most scans you will wear your regular clothes. You will want to wear comfortable clothing with as little metal on them as possible (no snaps, zippers, buttons, belt buckles etc.) Loose fitting jewelry, watches, and necklaces need to be removed. Body piercings, except stud earrings, need to be removed.

Because of the potential harmful effects associated with some metal objects in a magnetic field you should check with the MRI technologist if you have any of the following: pacemaker, metal implants, intrauterine device, aneurysm clips, surgical staples, or foreign metal objects in eye.

What Happens During An Open MRI Procedure?

You will be asked to complete a questionnaire which will be reviewed by the MRI technologist. This will be followed by a brief interview with the technologist who will discuss the procedure and confirm all safety screening questions. Because we use a large magnet in the MRI, no metallic objects or mechanical devices can enter the imaging room.

Patients are often pleasantly surprised to discover that the MRI examination is an easy and comfortable experience. During the exam, you will be lying on a firm table. You will be comfortably positioned for the exam and the table will then move into the center of the MRI machine. You will be asked to relax and lie as still as possible.

During the exam, you will be carefully monitored by your technologist from an adjacent room. As the individual sequences are performed, you will hear a faint knocking sound from the machine that represents the changes in the magnetic field that are part of the imaging process. A technologist will be able to see you at all times.

For your convenience, an intercom system is built into the magnet so that if you need anything, the technologist will be right there. The exam takes approximately 30 – 60 minutes. When the scan is finished, the technologist will assist you out of the scan room and you are free to leave. A radiologist will interpret the pictures and send a report to your physician for follow-up.