A $6.8 million upgrade of medical resonance imaging (MRI) technology at the Queensland Children’s Hospital means shorter scanning times and an improved, less stressful, experience for young patients.
The investment has delivered one new MRI machine and upgraded two others with the latest technology, ensuring the highest quality images for diagnosis and treatment planning.
A new mock MRI machine has also been installed to help children become familiar with the experience of a real MRI, which can reduce the need for sedation to manage procedural anxiety.
The upgraded MRI machines feature new infotainment systems, allowing children to watch videos or listen to music during their scan. These distractions help children remain calm and engaged during their scan further reducing the need for general anaesthesia.
Queensland Children’s Hospital is also now home to Australia’s first MINITOM Kids, a child-sized MRI simulator, which allows children to become familiar with the scan process through play. The MINITOM Kids was funded with a donation from Tour de Cure.
Five-year-old Bonnie from Charleville was one of the first to benefit from the new equipment.
Earlier this year, Bonnie was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a chronic liver disease where the body's immune system attacks its own liver cells. This week, she had her first MRI scan.
But before her scan, Bonnie learned what she could expect from the experience thanks to the mock MRI and the MINITOM Kids. This included hearing the sounds, feeling the sliding table and practising lying still in the scanner.
Bonnie’s mum, Megan, said the chance for Bonnie to explore the machine and ask questions made all the difference when it came to her real scan.
“Bonnie doesn’t like loud noises or tight spaces, so the Mock MRI was perfect for her to see it’s not as scary as it may look and she could ask as many questions as she wanted,” Megan said.
“For her real scan, she was still a little bit nervous to start, but she knew what to expect and by the end of the scan she’d actually fallen asleep.”
Children’s Health Queensland Chief Executive, Frank Tracey, said the combination of the advanced technology and child-friendly features of the new equipment would transform the MRI experience for patients and their families.
“Our dedicated teams know that medical imaging scans can be scary for some young children, and they are always looking for new and innovative ways to make the process safer, faster, and more comfortable for children,” Mr Tracey said.
“This advanced MRI technology delivers improved diagnostic capability and accuracy, while also keeping the unique needs of young patients at the heart of the process. Together, this enables us to provide the best possible care and outcomes for Queensland children and their families.”
General Manager, Diagnostic Imaging, Siemens Healthineers, Alison Curren, said these upgrades are setting a new benchmark for paediatric care in Australia.
“The Queensland Children’s Hospital’s paediatric MRI project represents a reimagining of paediatric imaging - one that integrates technology, empathy, and education. It is poised to shape the future of paediatric care not only across Australia but globally, reinforcing the hospital’s leadership in child health innovation and research,” Ms Curren said.