What You Should Know:
– St. Luke’s University Health Network has made a $30M investment in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology and service from GE HealthCare.
– The strategic investment is intended to expand patient access to advanced imaging that can help to enhance image quality while reducing scan times and patient discomfort.
Enhancing the Patient Experience with Advanced MRI Design
A key focus of the new MRI technology deployment is improving the experience for patients undergoing scans. The GE HealthCare systems feature wider bores – the tunnel-like space where the patient lies during the scan. This more open design directly addresses patient comfort by helping to reduce feelings of claustrophobia, a common source of anxiety during MRI procedures. By creating a less confining environment, St. Luke’s aims to make the imaging process more tolerable, potentially minimizing the need for sedation and improving patient compliance.
AI-Powered Imaging: Boosting Speed, Quality, and Throughput
The investment heavily features the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the MRI workflow. The new systems come equipped with AI capabilities designed to significantly enhance both the quality of diagnostic images and the speed at which they are acquired. GE HealthCare’s specific Sonic DL™ AI application, included in the investment, holds the potential to reduce scan times by an impressive margin – up to 83%¹. This acceleration could enable complex scans, such as detailed cardiac imaging, to be completed in the time it takes for a single heartbeat, while simultaneously helping to optimize image clarity. Such drastic reductions in scan time not only improve patient comfort but also boost departmental efficiency and throughput, allowing St. Luke’s to accommodate more patients daily.
Deploying Intelligent Radiation Therapy Planning with MRI
In a move placing it among the early adopters nationally, St. Luke’s will also implement GE HealthCare’s Intelligent™ Radiation Therapy (iRT) for MR. This advanced software solution integrates high-resolution MRI data directly into the radiation oncology planning process. Leveraging MRI’s superior soft-tissue visualization, iRT for MR enables more precise delineation and targeting of tumors for radiation therapy. For certain types of cancer, this enhanced precision can facilitate more accurate treatment delivery and potentially shorten the overall timeframe from initial imaging to the start of radiation therapy compared to conventional planning methods relying solely on CT scans.
“We are pleased to build upon our more than 30-year relationship with St. Luke’s to upgrade their MR fleet, including adding artificial intelligence technology,” said Catherine Estrampes, President and CEO, U.S. and Canada at GE HealthCare. “We are proud to work with St. Luke’s to enable greater precision, efficiency, and access to advanced technology for their patients.”
