Portsmouth Medical Office Now Has Only Open MRI In Newport County

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Newport Hospital added an open MRI machine at its hospital diagnostic imaging center at 69 Turnpike Ave, a spokesperson for Lifespan said Friday.

The machine is the first of its kind in Lifespan's health care system and the only open MRI in greater Newport County, according to hospital officials. Patients may begin scheduling appointments immediately.

Newport Hospital’s open MRI is the Oasis 1.2T, which hospital officials said is the strongest high field open MRI scanner. It has an unobstructed view, unobstructed access from all sides, and soothing ambient lighting. Hospital officials said this open MRI is effective for a variety of procedures including orthopedic imaging, neurological imaging, vascular imaging, abdomen and pelvis imaging and face and neck imaging.

"We are delighted to add this new technology to our diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures," said Christopher Monteiro, the director of imaging cardiology operations and radiology administration and support at Newport Hospital. "It offers greater comfort for the patient with its extra space, alleviating the feeling of claustrophobia, which for some, can make these types of scans difficult. It delivers high performance, which is a priority, and its design allows for easier communication between patient, radiologists, and technologists."

Newport Hospital officials said they're grateful to the community for helping to fund the MRI machine. The machine and four other new pieces of equipment got more than $750,000 in local funding in 2021.