LARNED — Imagine being able to watch your favorite movie or listen to a CD during an MRI. This soon will be a reality for patients at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital with the new CinemaVision technology.
These innovative “goggles,” accompanied with MRI safe headphones, immerse patients in a movie of their choice and ultimately help them remain calm during the noisy MRI scan. This will also allow technicians to obtain better imaging results without the use of sedation or anesthesia.
“Our hope is that this technology will decrease the anxiety of our patients that getting an MRI can cause,” said Shelly Stanton, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital imaging director. “If you have ever had a pleasure of having an MRI, you have experienced the strain of having to lie perfectly still for about 40 minutes while you hear the constant ping of the MRI during your testing.
“An MRI is a very important diagnostic tool for many medical conditions, but people do have trouble taking the test, especially if they are a least bit claustrophobic. The loud noise and long period of lying absolutely still can also lead to serious anxiety.”
The MRI goggles produce a video image similar to what a person would experience from a five-foot display set while standing 10 feet away. So the image will appear as if it is being projected from a distance to prevent any feelings of claustrophobia. Patients will have the option of viewing a pre-selected video or bring a favorite DVD from home to watch, or can listen to their favorite CD.
“As an MRI patient myself, I know first-hand the noise you experience during MRI testing,” said  Lewis Young, PVCH Foundation Trustee and donor. “I am so glad to be able to help improve our PVCH’s patients’ experience and reduce their anxiety while they receive MRI testing.”
The CinemaVision System was funded through the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation as a way to improve a patient’s MRI experience.