Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis has set up a mobile MRI unit to boost its imaging capacity and shorten the wait for patients who need scans.
The trailer, parked outside the lower entrance of the hospital’s Neville Building, is expected to begin taking patient appointments during the last week of October. Before that, staff will use a short startup period to test the equipment and confirm its network connections.
Samaritan plans to keep the unit at Good Sam for about six months.
The hospital said the move is a response to rising demand for imaging. With more appointment slots available, Samaritan expects wait times to drop significantly.
“The addition of the mobile MRI unit reflects our commitment to improving access to care and ensuring patients receive needed services as quickly as possible,” said Brandon Schmidgall, Good Sam’s hospital administrator. “Reducing wait times for MRI appointments is a priority, and this solution allows us to serve more patients while maintaining the high quality of care our communities expect.”
Physicians rely on MRI exams to diagnose and monitor a wide range of conditions, among them orthopedic injuries, neurological disorders and cancer. Getting a scan sooner can speed up both a diagnosis and the start of a treatment plan.
The unit isn’t new to the Samaritan system. The organization originally leased it to keep MRI services running at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital while that facility replaced its older machine. The trailer spent the past four months in Lebanon as the new system was installed and readied for patients.
Its arrival in Corvallis means some parking changes near the Neville Building, where several spaces will be off-limits while the unit is on site. Accessible parking will remain available for patients who need it, according to the hospital.
Patients with questions about scheduling an MRI or about parking should contact their clinic.