By XAVIER SMERDON
A WALL has been knocked down and a crane brought in to help deliver one of the most expensive pieces of medical equipment ever seen in Wyndham.
Thousands of patients will benefit from a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine that was installed at the Wyndham Private Medical Centre last week.
MIA Radiology will host the machine at their clinic which is located within the medical centre.
The state of the art MRI will increase the likelihood of early diagnosis of a range of musculoskeletal injuries and neurological conditions and ensure effective treatment plans can be put in place.
The technology will also allow for spinal assessment and abdominal imaging.
MIA Victoria Regional Manager, Glenn Rush, said the radiology group was proud to be the first to make such advanced technology available to Werribee locals.
“The new scanner helps reinforce our reputation for excellence and showcases our commitment to the health of the community. We have invested in this new scanner to help meet the needs of this rapidly expanding region and ensure patients no longer have to travel to central Melbourne for important MRI scans,” Mr Rush said.
Mr Rush said the MRI machine came at a cost of more than $1 million and the previous closest one was located in Footscray.
Mr Rush previously attempted to have an MRI installed at the Werribee Mercy Hospital but a lack of space prevented it.
Wyndham Radiology Clinic Director, Dr Antony Swingler, said the new scanner will be particularly helpful assessing muscles and other soft tissues which are difficult to visualise clearly with other imaging techniques.
“The MRI will be used to investigate conditions such as tumours, joint or spinal injuries or disease, soft tissue injuries or diseases of internal organs such as the brain or heart. The design of the machine is also set to improve patient comfort with reduced noise and a larger scanning tunnel, which will benefit those who suffer from claustrophobia,” Dr Swingler said.
General practitioner referrals for adult MRI scanning for certain indications will be available on the scanner from November 2013.
