25 Nov Harney District Hospital is getting a new, state-of-the-art MRI scanner!
The new SIGNA Artist Evo MRI scanner from GE HealthCare will increase patient comfort, enhance image quality, and significantly reduce scan times!
Have you heard the good news? Efforts are underway to replace the MRI scanner in Harney District Hospital’s (HDH’s) Imaging Department with some exciting, state-of-the-art technology!
MRI is an acronym for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI scanners create images of the body using a large magnet and radio waves. These high-tech machines can produce detailed images of almost every internal structure of the human body — including organs, bones, muscles, and blood vessels. This vital information helps healthcare providers diagnose medical conditions and make informed decisions about their patients’ medical care.
MRI technology continues to advance, offering clearer images and a more comfortable experience for patients. The decision to purchase a new SIGNA Artist Evo MRI scanner from GE HealthCare aligns with HDH’s core values.
“Our primary focus is to provide safe, high-quality, and compassionate care for our community,” HDH CEO Bob Gomes said. “This new MRI machine will increase patient comfort, enhance image quality, and significantly reduce the time for patients. It’s a win-win for our patients and healthcare providers.”
Compared with HDH’s current MRI machine, the SIGNA Artist Evo scanner offers 36 percent more room during scans, reducing claustrophobia by 90 percent and ensuring a much more comfortable patient experience. The new machine also comes equipped with a sound system, so patients can listen to music during their scan! This will help reduce claustrophobia, increase patient comfort, and help patients pass the time more comfortably. Moreover, GE HealthCare flipped the script with feet-first scanning, reducing anxiety for patients who may be apprehensive about head-first scans. The new MRI machine is also capable of whole-body imaging and can scan multiple organs simultaneously. This accessible machine can accommodate up to 500 pounds and includes a detachable table for seamless patient movement, without the need for repositioning.
The new scanner will also benefit healthcare providers by capturing higher quality, more detailed images in a shorter period of time. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and raises the standard of care.
Replacing a machine of this size has been an extensive undertaking! The new unit requires more cooling and will draw more electricity than the current unit. The good news is that HDH is entering the final phases of the MRI-replacement project! As the hospital prepares to make the swap, the HDH Imaging Department would like to inform patients and providers that the current MRI machine will be ramped down in December. The last day to receive a scan on the hospital’s current MRI machine will be Dec. 2, 2025. MRI services will be unavailable at HDH from Dec. 3, 2025, until the new machine is up and running. The goal is to start scanning patients on the new MRI machine in late February 2026. To minimize gaps in service, the Imaging Department is working hard to see as many patients as possible before Dec. 3. Patients who need an MRI scan during the transitional period will be referred to hospitals in John Day, Bend, or Idaho.
“We apologize for the brief interruption in service and hope you’ll bear with us as we transition to our new and improved technology,” CEO Gomes said. “We’re confident that our community will find the new MRI machine to be well worth the wait.”
You can learn more about our new SIGNA Artist Evo MRI scanner online at: SIGNA Artist Evo MRI scanner upgrade | GE HealthCare (United States).
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