Technology creates calming, supportive environment for veterans during imaging exams
- By Philips
- March 04 2025
- 3 min read
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans can be stressful for patients, especially veterans suffering from PTSD or claustrophobia. According to the VA, approximately 40% of patients experience a medium to high level of stress during an MRI exam. This stress often leads to exam intolerance, aborted procedures and straight refusals [1]. That’s why Philips developed an MRI suite designed for improved imaging and fast workflow – key for organizations such as the VA - while simultaneously enhancing the environment in the room to improve the patient experience for veterans.
At-a-glance:
- MRI provides detailed images of soft tissues and brain structures but faces issues with patient anxiety and motion, causing repeat scans [2,3]. These issues are particularly sensitive with veterans.
- Philips Ingenia MRI with Ambient Experience uses lighting, sound, and imagery to calm patients, addressing anxiety and reducing discomfort during scans.
- Since 2016, Philips has worked with VA Healthcare Systems to deploy this technology, supporting veterans and providers to improve patient comfort, reduce noise, and increase efficiency in imaging.
The Philips Ingenia 15.T Omega MRI machine sooths Veterans at the VA Health Care System of the Ozarks.
Unlike traditional X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging provides high quality images of the body and includes contrast to display detail of soft tissue and anatomic structures like gray and white matter in the brain. While this has allowed applications of MRI technology to expand in the areas of neurology, oncology and cardiology, thus increasing demand for this modality, patient anxiety and motion still remain challenges. An MRI scan takes about 30 minutes, and nearly 35% of patients have claustrophobia or some considerable level of anxiety about the machine itself [2], with about 20% requiring repeat scans due to motion during the scan [3].
In response, introducing in-bore Ambient Experience has enabled technologies such as dynamic lighting, projection, and audio to create immersive, relaxing environments for patients in need of MRI scans across the VA. This is particularly important for veterans seeking care within the VA system given the unique health issues faced by veterans – including exposure to dangerous and life-threating events, life-altering traumas, and wounds to body, mind and spirit – as w ell as the exceptional importance of healing environments to Veteran’s healing process. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Healing Design guidelines:
It is the unique responsibility of the VA to treat all wounds after military service—physical, mental, and emotional. VA healing settings must take into account the fact that Veterans are wounded within the context of service to their country [4].
Alexandria VA Healthcare System in Pineville, LA becomes first VA Medical Center to offer unique Philips Ingenia MRI with in-bore Ambient Experience
In August 2016, the Alexandria VA Medical Center Pineville, LA facility became the first VA site to adopt the Philips Ingenia 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with in-bore Ambient Experience technology. The state-of-the-art clinical suite offers a soothing patient experience with imagery, sound and light, helping to put patients at ease.
The Philips Ingenia 1.5T in-bore Ambient Experience MRI installation includes innovative elements designed to improve the patient experience:
- Positive distraction - Minimal clutter, visual imagery and programmable lighting provide a soothing atmosphere with positive distractions for anxious patients.
- Personalization - Patients personalize their experience by selecting a video theme and viewable from inside the MRI from an easy-to-position mirror. Combined with sound (through comfortable headphones), the experience becomes truly immersive and soothing.
- Information - AutoVoice gently guides patients through the procedure, announcing scan times and table movements, providing information that helps put patients at ease.
- Reduced acoustic noise - Noise is one of the most uncomfortable parts of an MRI exam for many patients. ComforTone automatically provides up to 80% noise reduction3.
In addition to giving the patients the perception of being in a bigger space and putting them at ease, the Philips Ingenia 1.5T offers enhanced workflow, high quality images and a fast, comfortable patient set-up.
Building upon the success of Ambient Experience in Pineville, VA deployed similar state-of-the-art imaging suites at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) in Fayetteville, Arkansas
In March 2021, Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) introduced the state-of-the-art patient experience to reduce stress on patients thanks to the installation of a Philips Ingenia 1.5T Omega.
Its display shows a peaceful, serene scene of the patient’s choosing with calming background sounds to help soothe their mind and take the focus from the typical loud MRI sounds while staring at a blank space wondering “How much longer will this take?”
I got an MRI last week and it was extremely calming before it even started. Watching the ambient light change made me completely relaxed.
Louis Martin
The Omega improves patient satisfaction and increases efficiency by having fewer exams to reschedule with a physician-prescribed sedative. The scanner also maximizes available space inside, the digital interface leads to better images acquired in a shorter scan time, and the high output gradient amps provide for better images.
With enhanced technology in partnership with Philips, VA Ozarks strives to offer Veterans the best care available by reducing scan times, increasing efficiency, and providing a supportive environment for the veterans they care for.
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Footnotes
- https://news.va.gov/86116/new-state-art-mri-machine-ozarks-va-soothes-patients/
- Meléndez, J. Carlos, and Ernest McCrank. "Anxiety-related reactions associated with magnetic resonance imaging examinations." Jama 270.6 (1993):
- Andre, Jalal B., et al. "Towards Quantifying the Prevalence, Severity, and Cost Associated With Patient Motion During Clinical MR Examinations“ .JACR (2015).
- https://www.wbdg.org/FFC/VA/VADEMAN/healing_envir.pdf
Disclaimer
Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. Results in other cases may vary.