Mayo Clinic Health System is expanding imaging capabilities at its Onalaska, Wis., clinic, local news outlet WKBT reported Jan. 7.
The $4.9 million project will add GE Healthcare's wide-bore 3T MRI scanner, which is designed to improve imaging quality and the patient experience.
The expansion will improve "advanced imaging options for multiple specialties, including orthopedic and sports medicine, oncologic, urologic and neurologic exams," Janel Glantz, MD, chair of the radiology department, told WKBT. "It will also improve our patients' experience by reducing MRI scan times and providing more comfortable wide-bore scanning capability."
3T magnetic fields are twice as powerful as fields used in traditional high-field MRI scanners, which leads to improved imaging clarity, according to the report.
Construction will begin in spring. The MRI bay is expected to be fully operational in early 2022.