By Melissa Silverberg
Before 2006, patients living in Galicia, Spain would need to travel long distances (110km/70 miles) to get an MRI. For a dispersed, aging population, this could be a major challenge and create health care inequity in a country with what is otherwise a free and accessible health care system.
Mercedes Arias Gonzalez, MD, PhD, head of diagnostic imaging for Spain’s public health service, was part of the team to bring innovative mobile MRI service to the public health system. She reported on 18 years of the project’s success with a digital poster to share lessons learned and how mobile MRI can expand access in other areas of need around the world.
“We thought that mobile MRI units could bring advanced diagnostic capabilities to remote and underserved areas, improving health care accessibility and patient outcomes. By bringing the technology to the people, we should be able to detect conditions earlier and save lives,” Dr. Arias said. “Thinking creatively about health care delivery, we can overcome geographical barriers and provide a more equitable access to MRI.”
Since September 2006, mobile MRI units were deployed to various locations, including seven second level hospitals and five third level hospitals. During the last 18 years, 279,143 MR scans were performed on more than 200,000 patients.
Mobile MRI units reached mean satisfaction levels of 95% in patient surveys and 98% in the survey of requesting doctors. The most common indications for MRI included neurological conditions (60%), musculoskeletal disorders (31%), and abdominal issues (9%). Operationally, the mobile units demonstrated an average setup time of 25.5 minutes and a patient throughput of 24 scans per day, with minimal logistical challenges.
“Radiology is not just about machines and numbers. It's about people and how to avoid the need to take a day off work or arrange childcare. It is about accessibility, sustainability and the power of innovation to change things,” Dr. Arias said.
Mobile units can also have an impact on the environment. Over 18 years of the program, Dr. Arias estimated that the scans performed have saved more than 20 million miles of patient travel and prevented the emission of 5,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Overall, Dr. Arias said the program was a success and that mobile MRI is a viable solution for delivering high-quality diagnostic imaging in remote and underserved populations.
“The impact on accessibility and equity was immediate. Patients who had been waiting months, got their scans, and doctors received crucial diagnostic information,” she said. “The next big idea in health care might not be about inventing new technology, but about finding new ways to deliver what we already have.”
Access the poster, “Effectiveness and Feasibility of Mobile MRI Use in the Public Health System, Eighteen Years of Experience. ‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’,” (W3-STCE2-1) on demand at RSNA.org/MeetingCentral.
© 2024 RSNA.
The RSNA 2024 Daily Bulletin is the official publication of the 110th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Published online Sunday, December 1 — Friday, December 6.
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