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memo ... . w . -. . .Octoberl.2012'3 1"! or“ c . ' t . I l O - .:.'.. '* Putting the mind at ease I O ' .~ . C ‘ ’ ‘ New deuce allows patients to watch TV, listen to music during MRI scans Brian-minnow ment system could help shorten (Monday MRI wait times at the hospital by reducing the number of times a ewtedmohgyatG'ancthiu patientneedstobereâ€"scan'ned Hospital is taking some of The average wait time for an the fear and apprehension MRI at Grand River Hospital is 55 out of magnetic resonance imag- days. down from 65 in 2009 but trigscans. still higher than the provincial An entertainment system averageofaboutudays installed last year uses video and One patient who has benefited music to distract patients as they from the new system is Waterloo endure the 30-minute- to one- teen ConnorOormler. About ayear . , hour-long scan. it helps distract ago. Connler began experiencing ' ' patients, who are required to serious mi mines and when his remain almost perfectly still while doctor confdn't find any obvious inside the machine or risk having cause. an MRI was scheduled for I to start the scan over again. lune. 'It helps get the patient's mind it was his first time inside a MRI ofi’ the idea oi'l have to stay still. i .and while the noise and tight have to stay still." said lenniler quarters didn't concern him too MacKinnon. MRI program director» much, the fact that he had to lay at Grand River Hospital. adding perfectlystill wasworrisome. a ‘ that the noise and sense of claus- Cormier was put at case when trophobia also contribute to the he learned that he would be able fear of having an MRI. to watch television for the 45 min- When patients are told they utes he was inside the SIS-million have to remain perfectly still they MRl machine. The entertainment can become tense. which some- system helps distract children and u'mes leads to involuntary twitch- adults alike during the gcgn by W m Connor Cormier is fitted with the new MRI entertainment system bytedtnkian Hilda Pope to a, MacKinnon said. allowing them to watch a DVD or Mate new it world. Pope said the device helps distract patients from the noise and claustrophobic feel- The entertainment system cost television. or listen to a CD or MP3 "‘95 M can 99‘ Wilde "‘9‘“ "’9 W“- “mm $55,000 and was made possible player. mother. Carolyn. Her son. who is a in] stafi'through the goggles, which does not expose patients to the through donations to the Grand “it really helped make an unla- big sports fan. watched part of a they find reassuring. said Pope. same radiation. River Hospital Foundation. miliar situation feel a little more CFLfootball gameduring his scan. While children have taken to The technology first began to MacKinnon said the entertain familiar for him,” said Cormier's “(The scan) really went quickly the system more readily than be used tostudydlseaseduring the - while i was watching the football adults, Hilda said interest among 19705 and 19%. and it has earned ,. m g game and it helped me relax and adults spiked during the Olympics a reputation for creating feelings of take away my nerves." Connor Only about one-in-five patients claustrophobia in patients who 9,; . said currently make use of the device, can sometimes feel trapped inside ’3‘ Thevisual and auditory distrac- but the hospital completed more the device. ‘ lions make for a more pleasurable than 11.500 MRI scans last year it is also very loud. registering 7 in experience, said Hilda Pope. MRI alone, meaning the device should around 90 decibels or higher. or ‘ . "2" team leader at the hospital. get some heavy use during its lifeâ€" about the same as heavy truck traf- «- ' “it helps control their breath- time. fic. and patients had to wear ear . ! ing." she said. "Those who have MRI technology uses a power plugs toavoidhearingdamage. ' - used it have loved it." magnet to create a magnetic field As forCormier, the sun did not Patients wear a set of head- to align the nuclei in the body. revealanythingoutoftheordinary. phones. similar to ones they might which creates a magnetic field that meaning doctors still aren't sure have at home. and a set of goggles is detectable by the scanner. what is causing his migraines. but rest on their eyes. The entire sys~ Every molecule in the body is they suspect a recent gromh spurt tern is hardwired to the MRI con- then assigned a point in space. and the fact he is just entering trol room. meaning technicians which is why it is so important for pubertyrnay have somethingtodo " can cut the sound and visuals and patients to lie as still as possible withhisbeadachea. speak directly to the patient if nec- while inside the scanner. 'He isn‘t getting them quite as essary. Mill's are better than X-rays at often. and we've gotten better at Aspomian at heart. Connier watched aCFL footbailgameduringhis Patients can also see the hospi- mminlngsofi tissue.andthescan findingtiietriggers'saidCamlyn. scan last June. “mm 9 .’. it: ~. ' "' Carousel Clothmg . t » , 1 Now Open Sundays . , PM Consignmml (Wiring 6 Accessories fl ,;_ O I 11 dm_4pm _, , 72 St. Leger St. Kitchener 6 ' . . 519 576-4990 , , CIasadSunday, October 7 and www.carouselclothinga . 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