The benefits of medical imaging equipment upgrades are clear. They can boost clinical effectiveness, increase patient satisfaction, and speed up scan times to help you see more patients in a day.
But purchasing MRI technology is a major investment. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid costly upfront purchases: MRI scanner rental.
Improved Image Quality
MRI images provide detailed information about organs and tissues inside the body. They are often used by radiologists to diagnose or treat patients with a variety of conditions.
An MRI machine uses a large, tube-shaped magnet to create images of internal structures. Inside the magnetic field, protons from water in your body line up, and when they do, they send out radio signals that a computer turns into images of your body.
Older MRI machines are unable to use the same imaging power as newer ones, and this may result in lower quality images. GE’s MR system upgrades are an ideal solution for facilities looking to improve image quality while keeping their existing systems in service.
The GE Tim upgrade is designed to help imaging departments improve clinical effectiveness, increase patient throughput, and boost staff morale. This alternative MRI upgrade path requires minimal disruption to the workplace, provides rapid returns, and costs less than a new installation.
Many hospitals are reluctant to invest in a new MRI because it’s expensive, but upgrading an existing system is a more cost-effective option. This can reduce the number of times that your facility needs to purchase and store liquid helium, and can lower maintenance costs as well.
Faster Scan Times
With budget constraints weighing on many facilities, efficiency is the top priority. In addition to boosting clinical effectiveness, faster scan times can help staff meet patient demand by offering more scan slots throughout the day.
When you upgrade your MRI system to a Siemens Magnetom Symphony, you can enjoy a range of benefits including better signal-to-noise ratio, increased scan speeds, more standard and optional coils, a new radio-frequency (RF) system with up to 18 or 32 independent channels for improved image quality, Audio Comfort improvements for quieter examinations, and new computer systems for quicker reconstruction.
The shortened time patients spend in the MRI can also make them more relaxed and less anxious, making them more cooperative during the exam. The result is a more accurate diagnosis, and happier patients.
While it’s true that purchasing an MRI machine gives you more control over how and when your equipment is upgraded, the upfront investment can be prohibitive for smaller practices. For these, a certified refurbished option is an ideal choice. These models can significantly reduce costs while retaining the functionality of a newer machine, and they allow for future upgrades without the need to replace the entire scanner.
Better Patient Comfort
Patients can be anxious or stressed during MRI scans, particularly if they’re claustrophobic or have never had one before. A new, high-quality MRI can help to alleviate those feelings, resulting in a smoother and more pleasant imaging experience for all involved.
The new MRI at Intermountain Medical Center in Watertown, CO, for example, has a larger scanner core opening that’s ten centimeters wider than the older machine. This makes a huge difference for claustrophobic patients and allows the hospital to scan bigger, taller, and heavier patients.
Additionally, the new MRI offers much higher image resolution and can generate more detailed maps of nerve fiber tracks for neurologic studies and cartilage for orthopedic scans. Those improved images mean that patients can get better treatment faster and with more confidence.
When it comes to buying a refurbished MRI, it’s essential to work with an experienced and reputable vendor who has a proven track record. Also make sure to ask if the MRI you’re purchasing comes with a warranty, and what it covers. It’s not uncommon for a refurbished MRI to come with a full, manufacturer-backed warranty that provides replacement parts and service for a specific period of time.
Lower Maintenance Costs
Purchasing an MRI is a significant investment, so it makes sense that healthcare facilities want to maximize their return on that investment. However, upfront purchases don’t necessarily translate into lower maintenance costs over time.
MRI technology continues to evolve at a fast pace, so it’s important for healthcare organizations to keep up with the latest advancements. Otherwise, their MRI may be outdated within a few years. This can cost the organization in terms of reduced patient throughput and lost revenue.
With a technical upgrade, existing MRI equipment can extend its lifespan with new hardware and software that provides state-of-the-art capabilities without the need for a full system install. Moreover, the ability to upgrade existing MRI systems can help reduce helium usage and eliminate magnet wastage.
MRI service and repair expenses are a vital consideration for any healthcare facility, so it’s critical to understand how much these costs will impact your business. One way to mitigate your MRI service and repair costs is by investing in a multivendor service agreement that offers both OEM and non-OEM parts. The right service contract will also ensure that you have the most reliable, cost-efficient spare part sources available. This approach can also reduce your overall service expenditures and increase your ROI.
Reduced Risk of Damage
The magnetic field of an MRI scanner attracts anything that is magnetic, which can include objects such as keys and phones. This can cause damage to the machine or injury to patients and medical professionals if these objects become projectiles within the MRI suite. The MRI system must also be able to detect these objects and prevent them from entering the magnet area, requiring extensive screening and safety precautions.
Each occurrence of an MRI incident poses a significant risk to patient safety and presents the potential for financial loss to the hospital or imaging center. Experts familiar with MRI safety issues have indicated that the incidents catalogued by the FDA are “not even the tip of the iceberg.”
Investing in a new MRI machine is not an easy decision for most hospitals, health centers and practices. However, a comprehensive review of the benefits of purchasing versus leasing can help determine whether this investment aligns with long-term goals for patient volume and clinical efficiency. With an MRI upgrade, your hospital or practice can benefit from improved image quality to boost clinical effectiveness, faster scan times to increase throughput, and improved comfort for patients, akin to the BIOMED SCAN CLINIC. A refurbished MRI may also require less training because the kinks have been worked out over time.
Increased Productivity
Upgrading your MRI equipment with the latest technology offers higher productivity. When the system is faster, more accurate, and easier to use, the staff can get more patients through the exam, resulting in more revenue for the facility. This type of increased productivity also benefits patient throughput, as patients can be scheduled for exams in a shorter time frame.
MRI technology has advanced at a rapid pace in recent years, and there is always the risk that a new MRI will become obsolete within a few years. This is especially true if significant advancements are made that make a new machine even better than the current version. For example, it wasn’t long ago that MRIs required liquid helium refills, but now there are zero helium boil-off systems that save thousands of dollars on this expense.
Upgrading an MRI with the latest technology is a great way to boost productivity without paying for a full replacement of the system. Upgrades can leave the magnet, table and other components in place but improve the workstation software, RF technology, coil set, and other important parts of your GE Excite MRI. Learn more about upgrading your MRI here. An imaging equipment upgrade is a complex project with many moving parts. A well-executed MRI upgrade can improve operations, lower costs and increase physician, patient and staff satisfaction. However, a poorly-executed imaging equipment upgrade can be costly in terms of lost revenue and disruption to patient schedules.
Higher Profits
As medical technology advances, the need to upgrade imaging equipment can become apparent. Upgrading to a high-tech machine can improve patient satisfaction and increase profit. However, the cost of purchasing MRI equipment can be prohibitive for small to mid-sized facilities. Buying or renting equipment can be more economical for these facilities, depending on the type of MRI system and other factors involved in the initial purchase.
For example, a 3T MRI machine may be ideal for certain research studies and complex neurovascular cases, but most routine scans can be done on a 1.5T short bore device. Moreover, many hospitals have a strict budget for MRI studies, so an MRI upgrade should not necessarily result in higher reimbursements.
In addition to upfront costs, purchasing a new MRI machine involves significant maintenance and energy costs. Whether you buy or lease, you need to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of each option to determine which is best for your facility. If you decide to purchase a refurbished MRI, ensure that the refurbishing company follows OEM guidelines and that your MRI will meet ACR requirements. In addition, consider that a refurbished machine will require helium refills which can add to your overall cost of ownership.
