Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our MRI services, from preparation tips to what to expect during your visit. Our comprehensive FAQ section covers all the essential information you need. Get quick and reliable answers to ensure a smooth experience.

What’s an MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a highly accurate way for doctors to see inside your body to identify
and diagnose a wide variety of possible medical conditions. It is a painless, noninvasive procedure that uses no ionizing radiation. Instead, it combines computer technology with magnetism and radio waves to create multiple pictures of the inside of your body. These images can be captured in multiple planes, creating a 3D map of the area under study. These images are then interpreted by one of our radiologists—physicians who are specially trained to use imaging technology to detect disease or injury.

What are the benefits of MRI over other types of imaging tests?

MRI uses no ionizing radiation, and is one of the least-invasive imaging tests available. MRI can provide excellent soft tissue detail, which is often challenging for other modalities. We think of MRI as a win-win—for our radiologists, for our referring physicians, and for our patients.

Why did your facility invest in Ingenia Ambition 1.5T?

At SpecialT MRI, we’re relentless in our search for new imaging technologies that provide better diagnostic tools for our doctors and better care for our patients. The Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T delivers on both counts. It consistently provides high-quality images and a high level of patient comfort. It delivers superb image resolution, fast exams, and a patient-focused in-bore experience that utilizes audio and visual enhancements to make the patient’s MRI as comfortable as possible.

What are the benefits to your referring physicians?

When physicians refer patients to SpecialT MRI for an MRI, they can do so with confidence for a number of reasons.

Superb image quality. The Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T incorporates dStream architecture that digitizes the signal directly in the MR coil, substantially improving the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in excellent image quality.
Fast exams. The Ingenia Ambition 1.5T also speeds up MR exams, and has several innovations which significantly increase staff productivity, such as Compressed SENSE. It simplifies patient positioning and coil handling for our technologists, so patients can be scanned from head to toe across the entire 55cm field of view in less time than current MR systems.
It uses new technology such as a VitalEye, an infrared camera that can detect submillimeter movement, as well as our Vital Screens, which help drive the automation of the scan and workflow.
Few repeat exams. The Ingenia Ambition 1.5T gives our radiologists and referring physicians access to the clear, detailed MR images they need to help make informed diagnoses, resulting in fast, comfortable scans and fewer repeat exams for our patients. The system is designed for First Time Right imaging—we feel that the combination of the dStream technology and the in-bore experience will result in fewer repeat exams.

What are the benefits to your patients?

The Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is based around a wide-bore magnet with a 70cm opening, enabling us to image patients of varying size, age and physical condition—something that has been a challenge in the past. The Ingenia Ambition 1.5T offers:

Peace of mind. The Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is less intimidating for patients who might be claustrophobic or anxious about getting an MRI scan. The wider opening and ambient experience are both designed to make patients feel more relaxed.
Short scan time. The Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is also fast. It has several innovations which significantly increase staff productivity, such as Compressed SENSE. In fact, our technologists can perform routine exams of the brain, spine, knee, ankle, and liver quickly and easily—with superb image quality. This should result in fewer repeat exams and more convenience for our patients.

Enhanced patient acceptance. Because our Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is an MR system, it’s less invasive than other imaging options, which our patients appreciate.

What diagnostic imaging applications does Ingenia Ambition 1.5T handle?

Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is designed to provide the precise, detailed MR images that radiologists and referring physicians need to help diagnose many different anatomical and structural problems in the body. Examples include:

General abdominal imaging
High-resolution peripheral angiography
Total spine multi-station imaging
High-resolution static and dynamic joint studies
Musculoskeletal imaging
Neurological imaging
Vascular system imaging
Spectroscopy of the brain and internal organs
Cardiac MR
Whole-body imaging
Breast MRI

Why did you choose Philips over other MR systems?

After thorough analysis, we chose Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T for the major improvements it delivers in terms of image resolution, exam speed, and patient comfort. But those were not the only factors.

Philips demonstrated that they are committed to supporting us at every phase of system ownership, from planning and start-up, through peak usage and renewal. They understand that while technology is important, healthcare is about our patients.

Philips provides SpecialT MRI, with a wealth of services designed to keep our equipment running smoothly, educate our staff, improve operating efficiencies, boost organizational performance, and most importantly, help us provide outstanding patient care. Our patients count on us for quality care and we count on Philips to support our mission.

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