Baystate MRI Offers Advanced Imaging at New Facility

SPRINGFIELD — A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility in Springfield aims to fit patients to a T — 3T, in fact.

Last month, the Baystate MRI and Imaging Center opened its doors at 80 Wason Ave., just off Main Street and minutes away from Baystate Medical Center and other medical offices in Springfield’s North End. The new location will house three open-bore MRI units, including a Siemens Open Bore 3 Tesla MRI device, which doctors say delivers an unprecedented level of detail in its images while also enabling patients to get their scans in greater comfort.

“The 3 Tesla technology — 3T for short — is essentially a stronger magnet, which enables physicians to see and interpret scans at a level of detail we’ve never had before,” said Dr. Richard Hicks, director of MRI for the Baystate MRI and Imaging Center and chief of Neuroradiology at Baystate Medical Center. “From neurology to orthopedic imaging, we expect to be able to detect and diagnose a range of health issues faster and more effectively than ever.”

With a 30-inch opening, open-bore devices can accommodate patients who might have struggled getting MRIs in the past. “An MRI used to be a really hard experience for people who are claustrophobic, for pediatric patients, and for people of size,” said Hicks. “Perhaps the greatest asset of the new technology is its comfort for the patient.”

Magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of the internal structure of a patient’s body. MRI is very useful in helping doctors detect tumors, infection, vascular disease, or internal bleeding, among other problems. The digital images from an MRI scan can be easily relayed between doctors and other providers, helping to ensure that every caregiver treating a patient has access to the most up-to-date and detailed assessment of that patient’s circumstances.

Baystate MRI and Imaging will also offer the newest PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computerized tomography) technology available at the Wason Avenue location. PET and CT are used primarily in oncology and brain-imaging applications and are very useful in identifying abnormalities, while also offering faster scans and an open design for patient comfort.

Baystate MRI is a partnership between Baystate Radiology and Imaging Inc. and Shields Health Care Group, which provides MRI services across central and southern New England, and is the official MRI provider of the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, the Boston Celtics, and the New England Revolution.

“Our new Imaging Center combines the latest MRI technology for the comfort and convenience of our patients,” said Tom Shields, president of Shields Health Care Group. “It also reinforces the long-term commitment of Baystate Health and Shields Health Care Group to providing care to the Springfield communities.”