Believe it or not, it is time once again to replace another scanner in the Cincinnati Children’s MRI Division (Room M2). We typically replace our MRI scanners about every seven to ten years in a consistent rotation. This scanner upgrade is particularly important to me because it was about seven to eight years ago when I was hired into the Cincinnati Children’s family. The current MR2 equipment has been here as long as I have, and it will be sad to see it go. Seven to ten years is not a very long time in the life of an MRI scanner. Our used machines will be shut down and disassembled, painted and cleaned, and then sold as refurbished units to other medical facilities throughout the country and the world.
Normally, the process of swapping out one scanner for another takes only about one to two weeks to complete. This includes the disassembly of the old machine, the moving of the two scanners to new locations and then the reassembly of the scanner before finishing the installation with final tests. This time, because we will also be doing some remodeling of the exam room during the swapping process, it will probably take closer to nine or ten weeks.
To make up for any lost availability for our patients, we have opened the Erkenbrecher modular unit once again. This will allow us to offer additional non-sedate MRI time slots while M2 is down for construction. If you happen to be scheduled in the Erkenbrecher modular unit, then you will receive specific instructions on where/how to park for this location; otherwise, plan on parking and arriving for your MRI per usual. Hopefully, by the second or third week in April, we will be completely back to normal. We thank you for your patience.
Contributions by Meredith Towbin, copyeditor.
