Bermuda Healthcare Services is preparing to introduce a new state-of-the-art Siemens MAGNETOM Flow.Neo MRI machine that Dr. Ewart Brown says will provide Bermudians with faster, more comfortable and advanced diagnostic imaging without the need to travel overseas.
Speaking with TNN News, Dr. Brown said he is anxious to have the new equipment operational and available to patients.
“I want to get it up and running and let Bermudians benefit from a state-of-the-art machine,” Dr. Brown said.
The new MRI is described as a generation ahead of the facility’s previous machine and incorporates artificial intelligence technology designed to speed up examinations and improve the patient experience.
Dr. Brown said the machine can produce detailed 3D images quickly and is particularly beneficial for patients who may experience claustrophobia.
A major advantage, he said, is that the new system does not require helium.
The previous MRI relied on helium, and Dr. Brown recalled that the facility was forced to suspend MRI services following a hurricane-related helium shortage.
“This one, this machine does not require helium,” he said, adding that the new technology is expected to be ready to begin seeing patients in approximately two to three weeks.
Dr. Brown also described the machine as potentially being the first of its kind in Bermuda and possibly even ahead of equipment currently operating in the United States.
He credited his wife, Wanda, with helping secure the machine after initial indications suggested the equipment would not be available until December 31.
“Wanda started to negotiate, which is what she likes to do,” Dr. Brown said. Those negotiations ultimately resulted in a machine becoming available in July.
For patients, Dr. Brown said one of the biggest benefits will be the reduced examination time.
He gave the example of a knee MRI, which could take approximately 10 minutes on the new machine compared with about 30 minutes previously.
The machine also features entertainment options, including music, designed to make the examination more comfortable.
Dr. Brown emphasized that the technology is only part of the equation, saying Bermuda Healthcare Services has experienced technicians capable of maximizing the machine’s capabilities while providing professional care.
Explaining the importance of MRI technology, Dr. Brown compared it with traditional X-rays and CT scans.
He said an MRI essentially acts like a camera inside the body, allowing doctors to see images that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. Unlike CT scans, which use X-rays, MRI technology uses magnetic fields and does not expose patients to ionizing radiation.
Dr. Brown said the introduction of the new machine will give Bermudians access to an advanced diagnostic service locally rather than having to travel overseas.
“We are about service and quality,” he said.
The MRI is expected to be ready to begin accepting patients during the first week of September, although Dr. Brown stressed that the date remains subject to final preparations.
An open house is expected to follow the launch, giving members of the public an opportunity to see the new machine and learn more about its capabilities.
Dr. Brown also took the opportunity to recognize project manager Warren Jones, praising his work in helping bring the project together within a relatively short timeframe.
“He has been absolutely remarkable to be able to pull this off in the time that he did,” Dr. Brown said.
The new MRI represents a significant investment in Bermuda’s local diagnostic imaging capabilities and is expected to provide patients with faster examinations, greater comfort and advanced imaging technology once it becomes operational.
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