The field of imaging – and MRI technology, especially – is constantly evolving. This is a fact that MRI technologists/device coordinators Whitney Wall and Brittney Guenther come face to face with every day.

“Ten years ago, when I first started as a student in MRI, it was rare to see a patient with a pacemaker in the MRI environment, and now we do upwards of ten a day,” shares Brittney.

The two team members are both certified safety officers at Duke Health who help review every single MRI request that doctors order for patients. Their work includes reviewing device safety manuals, assessing the conditions required for the MRI, and collaborating with the care team before scheduling the MRI plan. This is an essential safety step, especially for patients who have an implanted device.

“My job as a device coordinator is to educate my colleagues on this changing technology and to make them feel safer about imaging. There is so much time and research that goes into each patient,” Brittney emphasizes.

Part of their position is also optimizing patient experiences and outcomes, especially as technology continues to evolve. By implementing new protocols at Duke Health, this team has reduced turnaround time in appointment scheduling and increased access to patient care in the imaging field.

These process improvements are no small feat in the field. Both technologists understand better than most how risky imaging is – but they also see firsthand how critical scan results can be when diagnosing and treating patients.

“It is common for people to forget how dangerous the MRI magnet is,” Whitney explains. “Sometimes there are nearly impossible guidelines to follow to ensure the patient is safe throughout the entire scan. Many patients are referred to us from outside hospitals because they have been turned away due to their implants and guidelines. We take pride at Duke to research and do everything in our power to safely take these patients in.”

In situations like these, resilience and innovation within the MRI team make it possible for patients to find care at Duke Health when other facilities have turned them away.

“Find creative ways to still meet manufacturer guidelines. Think outside of the box,” Brittney says. “You never know how much that MRI might change that patient's life.”

The continuous growth of the MRI team is just one example of creative, collaborative team efforts across the health system – and how team members with a calling to care go above and beyond to improve the patient experience at Duke Health.

Brittany and Whitney smile in a graphic showing how Duke has made strides for MRI patients.

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