“We are extremely excited to be able to offer patients the option to have an open MRI at Allegan General,” said Clarence Snyder, Radiology Manager at Allegan General Hospital.

An open MRI has many benefits. It can accommodate all size patients (up to 550 pounds), as well as eliminate anxiety and claustrophobia. The MRI opening is 70 cm in diameter, giving almost one foot of space between the patient’s head and the magnet. Plus for many exams, patients can go into the MRI feet first with their head remaining outside of the system.

Doctors use MRIs to diagnose diseases and injuries in any part of the body. It is the exam of choice for studying the head, spinal cord, heart, kidneys, pancreas, and liver, because the images are so detailed. MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves—not radiation—to create pictures of internal tissues and organs. For more information about the open MRI or any diagnostic services available at AGH, please call the radiology department at (269) 686-4210.

Allegan General Hospital is a community hospital that focuses on providing exceptional, compassionate and personalized healthcare to the community it serves. Allegan General provides a wide range of healthcare services, including bariatric, surgery, sleep center, emergency, physical rehabilitation and mental health. For more information on the hospital, visit www.aghosp.org.