(Photo courtesy of Kona Community Hospital)

Special to Hawaii 24/7 by Emilly Mendez-Bryant | Kona Community Hospital Community Relations

Kona Community Hospital has installed the region’s first Open Bore, 1.5 Tesla, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that combines a larger bore, or opening, for obese and claustrophobic patients with the ability to capture high-field quality diagnostic images.

It is identified as the best on the neighbor islands and is the same premier machine as in Queens Medical Center located on Oahu.

The new MRI was given a traditional Hawaiian blessing at a reception Wednesday afternoon.

“We’ve had an eventful month. Two weeks ago, we celebrated our Level III Trauma Center designation which took two years to achieve. This status provides streamlined care for our trauma patients,” said Jay Kreuzer, hospital CEO. “Now, we celebrate our new state-of-the-art MRI machine which will provide an overall better patient experience. Instead of having to go to another facility, they can have the comfort, convenience and care here. Coming into an organization that strives for excellent health care is something we should all be proud of.”

The Siemens Medical Solutions MAGNETOM Espree installed at Kona Community Hospital features a bore opening of nearly 2.3 feet in diameter and almost one foot of free space between a patient’s head and the magnet.

Approximately four feet long, the magnet allows more than 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient’s head outside the bore, which can help ease claustrophobia.

MRI exam room. (Photo courtesy of Kona Community Hospital)

The first patient to have a MRI on this new machine is scheduled for later this week.

“This is going to increase our efficiency and patient convenience,” said Melody Sulliban, Director of Imaging at Kona Community Hospital. “The patient-friendly design of this magnet will make it easier for larger patients and those with claustrophobia to have a MRI examination which produces higher quality images. This will potentially reduce the need to repeat and interrupt exams. It will also enable us to perform other MRI services in areas that we could not before such as the breast and extremities.”

Lance Anderson, the hospital’s assistant administrator said, “Not only does our new MRI machine provide better image quality and more comfort to patients, we have renovated the entire MRI suite and other imaging areas in order to have a more welcoming and relaxing setting to provide a great experience for our patients. Plus, patients do not have to leave this island to get the care that they need because it is here in their own backyard.”

The KCH Imaging Team and Administration.
(Photo courtesy of Kona Community Hospital)