Another revolutionary advantage of the Philips system is real-time, interactive imaging. The clinician can see results on the monitor virtually in real-time during the exam and make changes in the procedure as needed. This capability can reduce the need for long scans or repeat examinations. The Gyroscan Intera allows the physician to handle any exam from standard neurological, musculoskeletal, and abdominal imaging to the most sophisticated functional, cardiac, and MR angiography studies. Traditional, more invasive exams that required an inpatient stay can now be done by faster, more informative outpatient MRI studies.
Outpatient procedures are generally more cost-effective for the patient and the healthcare system.
According to Dr. Nancy Neubauer, Whidbey General Hospital s Medical Director of Radiology, MRI scans use computers and magnetic fields to create pictures of the human anatomy similar to x-rays, but without radiation. Currently, about 12.9 million MRI exams are performed each year a number that is increasing annually. The hospital is pleased to be able to offer this service to the Whidbey Island Community.