"Caring has never been so close to home." Regional Open MRI has proudly been serving the CSRA medical community since February 2003. In 2009 Regional Open MRI announced the additional of a Hitachi ARIS II magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging system. The AIRIS II system features a unique, award-winning, open design that provides complete access from all sides for maximum patient comfort. The AIRIS II is open on four sides, which minimizes anxiety and claustrophobia. This also allows the patient to have a loved one at their side during the exam. When you enter the scan room you will feel relaxed due to the home like environment. Patient care is number one at Regional Open MRI. That's why our slogan "Caring has never been so close to home" is very true.

Regional Open MRI offers quality patient care. We offer same day scheduling and we guarantee reports back to the referring physician within 24-48 business hours. We have a registered licensed technologist who believes in patient care. You might be surprised at how well you know our staff. Our manager, April Norman and receptionist, Holly Peevy, are both Thomson natives.

SERVICES:

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI):
Open

MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a method used by our physician and Registered MRI Technologists to look inside the human body to obtain diagnostic information. It can help provide a quick and more accurate diagnosis for your physician reducing the need for exploratory surgery and other diagnostic procedures that may have associated risk. It provides comfort for the patient while delivering the consistently high-quality images needed for comprehensive diagnosis. Our Hitachi ARIS II MRI accommodates large patients, decreases anxiety in the claustrophobic patient and produces high quality images and fast scan times. It is designed with an extra-wide patient table and produces less noise than traditional closed machines. Our goal is a complete and comfortable scan with a minimum of anxiety.

Step by Step Patient Guide

• What is an MRI Scan?
  An MRI scan is a diagnostic imaging study that allows your physician to look inside your body without the use of radiation, x-rays or surgery. The MRI uses magnetism and radio waves to produce pictures of your head, spine and other parts of your body. These images are used to distinguish normal, healthy soft tissue from unhealthy, pathological tissue. Depending on what information your doctor needs, the MRI scan may require the use of a contrast agent given intravenously to assist in visualizing certain structures in your body. The system produces a knocking sound which represents that the exam is proceeding as required.
• Preparing for an MRI
  No special preparation is needed prior to the exam unless your doctor has given you other instructions. You will be asked to complete a health history form so we can proceed with your exam in a safe manner. You will be asked to remove all: jewelry, watches, hairpins, glasses, wallets keys, piercings, nylon tights, credit cards, phone cards and other metallic objects. An MRI works with a strong magnet. Please tell us if you have any of the following: aneurysm clip, cardiac pacemaker, implanted cardioverter defibrillator, electronic implant or device, magnetically-activated implant or device, neurostimulation system, spinal cord stimulator, cochlear implant or implanted hearing aid, insulin or infusion pump, Implanted drug infusion device, any type of prosthesis or implant, artificial or prosthetic limb, any metallic fragment or internal metallic object, hearing aid.
• What happens during an MRI?
  The scan will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes depending on the type scan your physician ordered. Our MRI system allows your head to stay outside the magnet bore during most examinations except head or neck exams. The technologist will position you on a padded table and the table will then slide into the scanner. You will always be able to speak with the technologist through a speaker. The system produces a knocking sound which represents that the exam is proceeding as required

RADIOLOGISTS:

• Rand A. Confer, M.D.  is a Board Certified Radiologist from the American College of Radiology and Medical Director for Regional Open MRI. Dr. Confer completed his residency at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Confer also practices at Diagnostic Imaging in Augusta, and Augusta Open MRI in Augusta, GA.