New MRI location MBRT for patient care, education, and research.

Mon, 14 October 2024

New MRI location MBRT for patient care, education, and research.

In March, a state-of-the-art MRI scanner was hoisted into the Wiebenga building. The installation of the 4500-kilogram device marked the beginning of a new MRI location, used for patient care by the MRI Center and by Hanze University for education and practice-oriented research. The location was officially opened on October 14. Eline Schuur and Esmee Bahlmann, who are currently interning there, shared more about the new MRI facility.

Both Eline and Esmee are in their final year of the Bachelor's program in Medical Imaging and Radiotherapeutic Techniques (MBRT). They started their internship at the new MRI facility, a collaboration between Hanze and the MRI Centrum, in September. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of the body. "The MRI Center is a clinic where you can be referred by your general practitioner, a hospital, or a sports physician," Esmee explains. "We are open two days a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Most of the time, you can get an appointment within the same week."

1.5 Tesla

The MBRT program already had an MRI scanner for students to gain practical experience, but it can't compare to the new scanner. "There are different strengths for MRI scanners," Eline explains. "We had a 0.2 Tesla MRI scanner, and now we have a 1.5 Tesla, which is much better and suitable for patient care. It's the type of scanner used in hospitals, with a strong signal and perfect imaging. Both of us did internships abroad, Esmee in Belgium and I in Switzerland, and this scanner is the same as the ones used in those hospitals. MRI is quite a complex field, and with this scanner, you're much better prepared for patient care. We were already ahead of other programs, as many don't even have an MRI scanner, but now we are really well-equipped."

100 kilometers per hour

Eline and Esmee intern at the MRI Center two days a week, and in addition, the scanner is used by Hanze for education and research. Esmee explains: “We assist with lessons, teach, and support the instructor. One of our key tasks is ensuring safety, as an MRI scanner has an incredibly strong magnetic field. Scissors can shoot off at 100 kilometers per hour, and a phone won’t survive a trip into the scanner. The teachers appreciate that we thoroughly check everything. Unlike X-ray equipment, you’re not exposed to radiation in an MRI scanner, which allows students to safely practice on each other. 'You can make as many mistakes as you need to master the scanning process,' Eline adds."

Breast cancer

An MRI scan doesn’t show bones but rather soft tissues. “We can use the scan to detect things like Alzheimer’s, visualize organs, and examine knees, menisci, and even bleeding,” Esmee explains. “Recently, Eva Jinek featured a segment about breast cancer, where it was mentioned that MRI can scan breast tissue density and help estimate the risk of breast cancer. The MRI Center was flooded with women wanting to get their breasts scanned. We’ll be starting that screening here soon as well. It’s not a replacement for breast cancer screenings but a supplement.”

Eline and Esmee are learning a lot during their internship. Eline shares: “The combination of education and patient care is really interesting. We’ve done internships where we worked full-time in hospitals five days a week, but you learn so much by explaining the subject to students. I didn’t know I could do that or that I would find it so enjoyable and engaging. The patients who come here are also grateful for how quickly they can be helped. It’s amazing that, during our studies, we can help reduce waiting times in healthcare.”

Text: Loes Vader
Photos: Kim Frijters
Source: Hanze