First Health System in State to Have the Advanced MRI Capabilities
WESTFORD, MA, August 7, 2024 — Shields Health and Emerson Health, partners in a joint venture for MRI and PET/CT services, installed the cutting-edge GE 3T SIGNA™ Hero (HERO) at Emerson Health’s outpatient center in Westford. This advanced MRI is the first of its kind available within a health system in Massachusetts and marks the second HERO unit in the state, following the initial installation at Shields in Brockton.
The 3 Tesla (3T) strength HERO replaces an older MRI system and offers the region state-of-the-art clinical and care enhancements. The revolutionary machine provides faster scan times and superior image quality. The scanner also includes specialty prostate MRI services, another first for the Westford region.
“Our partnership with Shields Health delivers state-of-the-art equipment, advancing our commitment to outstanding patient care,” said Christine Schuster, RN, MBA, President and CEO, Emerson Health. “The new HERO MRI is a game-changer – significantly reducing scan times while increasing patients’ comfort, and enhancing image quality for the best diagnostics and treatment planning. We are excited to be the first health system in Massachusetts to offer patients these advanced MRI capabilities.”
Named in honor of healthcare workers who worked the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic caring for patients, the HERO’s technology features a spacious 70 cm “open-bore” and a detachable table to help accommodate patients of all shapes and sizes and enhance patient comfort. Additionally, it’s AI-driven whole-body workflow solutions ensure operational efficiency and clear images, providing improved patient comfort and exceptional scan quality for optimal diagnostic and treatment planning.
The HERO’s advanced features include decreased scan times up to 60%, thanks to GE HealthCare’s deep learning image reconstruction technology, AIR™ Recon DL. Its design is not only user-friendly but also eco-friendly, reducing helium usage by up to 67% and significantly decreasing power consumption.
Highlighting the advantages of the new machine, Shields Health President Peter Ferrari stated, “The overall experience of MRI scans has significantly improved. With reduced scan times and enhanced image clarity through the use of AI, we can enable better diagnoses and more confident treatment plans. We are proud to continue our partnership with Emerson Health, which is dedicated to delivering advanced patient care through the latest techniques and equipment.”
Emerson Health Westford plans to begin using the new MRI with patients the week of August 19.
For more information about the GE 3T Hero MRI in Westford, visit shields.com
About AIR™ Recon DL
AIR™ Recon DL an advanced technology developed by GE HealthCare that combines high-field MRI with artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance image reconstruction. This technology utilizes deep learning algorithms to significantly improve the quality and speed of MRI scans. By optimizing image reconstruction, AIR™ Recon DL reduces artifacts, enhances image quality, and enables lower scan times[1]. It can help support clinicians to obtain high-quality diagnostic images while improving patient comfort and workflow efficiency.
[1] https://www.gehealthcare.com/-/media/gehc/us/images/products/magnetic-resonance-imaging/air-technology/recondl/features-list/case-study-air-recon-dl–jb19184xx.pdf?rev=-1
About Emerson Health
More than 300,000 people throughout the region trust Emerson Health’s experienced doctors and clinicians for their care. With Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass., primary and specialty care centers in Bedford, Concord, Sudbury, Groton, and Westford, and urgent care centers in Hudson, Littleton, and Maynard, the community depends on Emerson Health for advanced, personalized care at every stage of life. Learn more at www.emersonhealth.org.