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Imaging Center Eases Stress Of Mri Testing For Pediatric Patients
That is why the Imaging Center at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center has installed a highly sophisticated projector system called the Ambient Experience for the new high field 1.0T Open MRI equipment. The Ambient Experience is a virtual movie theatre which enables children to choose their own music, lighting and wall images. The Ambient Experience virtually transforms the MRI room into a multi-dimensional movie theatre where special images such as fish or hot air balloons are projected onto the specially-designed circular walls. Each of the themes has accompanying sounds and music which can preoccupy the children and make them feel as though they are at the movies instead of having a diagnostic test performed. “We chose to include the Ambient Experience with our new Open MRI because it reduces patient anxiety and makes our patients feel more comfortable. It also enables us to obtain better images because our patients are more inclined to lay still and potentially reduces the need for repeat examinations,” explains Lyle Gesner, M.D., section chief of Neuroradiology at Saint Barnabas. As children check-in for their Open MRI exam, they can choose from themes including aquatic, space, fly-through and lava lamp – all accompanied by special lighting, sounds and music. Then in the waiting room, children can prepare for their test by playing with a new miniature scanner called the Kitten Scan. Children select a wooden toy, place it on the miniature exam table and slide it into the Kitten Scan and learn why the toy is “sick.” Animation appears on a screen and shows the children what the doctors are looking for inside the toys and tells them about each one. For further information about the new Ambient Experience Open MRI, please call the Saint Barnabas Imaging Center at (973) 322-7859.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be extremely nerve-wracking and downright scary for many adults, but for children it can be even worse. Lying perfectly still for an extended period of time on a machine all alone may be very upsetting for young children who can’t understand what is happening.