New MRI technology at Trinitas Regional Medical Center increases treatment options, screening capabilities

Trinitas Regional Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, said it recently increased treatment options and screening capabilities with the addition of new, state-of-the-art imaging technology.

The medical center said the newly unveiled Nadine Brechner Interventional Radiology Suite and a new magnetic resonance imaging machine will increase access to comprehensive care while significantly reducing screening and procedure times for Elizabeth residents and surrounding communities.

Funded in part by the J.C. Kellogg Family Foundation and the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, the Nadine Brechner Interventional Radiology Suite features the Siemens Artis Zee, which expands interventional radiology services offered at Trinitas, providing experts with pinpoint accuracy to perform minimally invasive procedures that can diagnose and treat a variety of conditions including cancer, liver disease, cardiovascular disorders and gynecological conditions.

The new equipment allows radiologists to perform procedures such as angiography, chemo embolization and stent placement, which were difficult with prior technology.

Trinitas radiologists now have the ability to identify blood clots and administer clot-busting drugs to open a blood vessel up, saving a person’s limb or even life. The new technology is also being used to identify blood flow to cancerous tumors allowing radiologists to directly add chemo to destroy the tumor without damaging any surrounding organ or tissue. Additionally, doctors can use the new equipment to drain fluid from the lungs or an abscess with the use of stents or tubes to aid in faster recovery for patients.

The newly installed Siemens Sola MRI system also expands the hospital’s diagnostic and procedure capabilities and provides radiologists with the tools for real-time analysis.

Faster scanning capabilities reduce routine musculoskeletal scan times by up to 46% so patients who are in pain can have their MRI done in 15 minutes or less. Additionally, breast scan time is reduced to 30 minutes down from one hour, allowing for bilateral breast biopsies to be performed in one visit, as opposed to two, and decreasing wait times for pathology results.

“The recent expansions to our imaging capabilities enable our clinical team to diagnose and treat more conditions providing patients with high-quality care close to home,” Gary S. Horan, CEO and president, Trinitas, said. “The new technology prioritizes patient comfort and safety with advanced features that dramatically reduce procedural time and significantly reduce patient and staff radiation exposure while still allowing for optimal images.”