MRI Services at WMHS Receive Accreditation

MRI services at the Western Maryland Health System (WMHS) have been accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), a professional organization that monitors standards, quality of care and the expertise of institutions performing MRI. The three-year term of accreditation was awarded after a strict two-part review process was completed. The ACR evaluated all aspects of the site and determined that it met the rigorous standards and demonstrated quality in all areas under review.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is an imaging study utilizing a magnetic field and radio waves to produce a highly accurate view of the internal anatomy of the body. MRI is safe and painless, and it has become a vital part in the diagnosis and treatment of many forms of cancer and sports-related injuries.

WMHS also has an open MRI unit available every Thursday for claustrophobic and larger patients. The open MRI machine gives the patient more space and eliminates the fear of enclosure.

WMHS also offers Magnetic Resonance Angiography, or MRA. MRA is a special type of MRI that looks at blood vessels and blood flow. MRA is a non-invasive technique that can detect or rule out blood vessel disorders in the head, neck, abdomen, as well as upper and lower extremities. The chief advantage of MRA is its ability to visualize major arteries without the insertion of catheters, while requiring no hospital stay and posing little or no risk to the patient.

Among the new technologies offered at WMHS are Cardiac MRI and Breast MRI. Cardiac MRI offers a way to look at the morphology and function of the heart and at the same time evaluating the heart muscle following a heart attack. Breast MRI offers a better visualization of the breast tissue for detecting cancer.

WMHS is now offering Cinema-Vision. This is a device that allows the patient to watch movies or listen to music while being scanned in the MRI machine.

For more information on the services available for MRI at WMHS, please contact the MRI Department at 301-723-6747.

MRI Techs (from left) Alexa Raines, Cheryl Russell and Stacy Riggleman, Lead MRI Tech, are pictured in the MRI suite at the WMHS Diagnostic Center with Radiologists (back row, from left) Dr. James Benjamin, Dr. Michael Dwyer, and Dr. Stan Lambert. MRI tech Heather Reese was not available for the photo.