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BWH is beginning a program that will yield a major modernization of its MRI capabilities. During the next six months, the hospital will install four new high field MRI systems, each operating at 3.0 Tesla, manufactured by Siemens Medical Solutions.
One system is in service in the Lee Bell Breast Center, and a second system has arrived at the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. 221 Longwood Ave. will house a workhorse system for Neurosciences researchers, and L1 will be home to a system with a very wide bore to accommodate larger patients and facilitate MR-guided interventional procedures.
After completing the modernization project, BWH will have six 3.0T magnets in its fleet, including two made by General Electric, which will be located at 221 Longwood Ave. and L1. By the end of the project, there will be 13 MRI systems in the Brigham fleet and two more systems at DFCI.
The renovation of the MRI facility on L1 is the most complex part of the process. During approximately four months of the modernization project, BWH will have only one functioning MR system on L1 to handle all inpatient and Emergency Department patients. It will be available 24 hours a day.
“While we will do our best to maximize patient throughput during this time, we may experience some short delays for inpatients and ED patients,” said Steven Seltzer, MD, chairman of BWH Radiology.
All outpatient MR scanning will shift to ambulatory sites during the construction period. The MR device at 850 Boylston St. will expand hours of operation to 16 hours per day, seven days per week. The ambulatory scanners on the Nesson Pike, at 221 Longwood and in Coolidge Corner will take on more patient slots. In addition, BWH in December opened a brand new ambulatory MRI service at Compass Medical in East Bridgewater.
“Thank you in advance to the BWH clinical and research communities for your patience while this ambitious modernization project takes place,” Seltzer said. “The results will be worth the wait!”