How to Justify the Cost of an MRI Sound System

Big or small, any investment in new technology is met with a few obvious and well-founded questions. Do we really need this or is this just nice to have? And while it doesn’t apply to all circumstances, it’s nice to have an answer to: What the return on investment? Take hearing protection for example. It’s necessary for use with an MRI scanner. This means it’s needed (aka not a nice-to-have), but isn’t something you’d expect a return on investment from. You offer hearing protection to protect your patients. It’s an easy expense to justify. But what about a more advance audio system? Something that’s both excellent at reducing decibel levels but also plays music. Surely that’s an upgrade from bare-bones, plain old “we need this.” Maybe – but patient satisfaction isn’t the only selling point. In fact, the expense can be greatly offset, if not entirely made up for, by the benefits it brings.

Getting at the heart of why patients fear MRI scans

It’s no secret that the idea of getting an MRI scan makes some patients uncomfortable. Whether it’s claustrophobia or a dislike of loud noises, more than a third of patients report feeling some level of anxiety during a scan. One study found that as many as 13% of patients reported having a panic attack during an MRI due to claustrophobia. Do a little digging on patient anxiety during MRI scans and you’ll find a fairly wide range in terms of the number of instances and severity. Of course, studies don’t always agree in their findings. We also have to take into account different definitions of anxiety and their causes. Still, understanding patients’ fears and anxieties over MRI scans is important if we’re going to solve it. Experiencing mild anxiety and discomfort is one thing. It’s something entirely different when anxiety becomes panic. This can lead to aborted scans and patients putting off scans that could be key to diagnosis.

Audio distraction makes for happier, more relaxed patients

Phobias aren’t one-size-fits-all. However, reducing noise from the scanner and creating a pleasant, immersive distraction can make a real difference in patient satisfaction. Noise cancelling headphones with internal speakers achieve both. While hearing protection is standard practice, the capability to play music is what makes the real difference in terms of alleviating fear and anxiety. Playing music selected in advance allows the patient to tune out and relax during their scan by giving them something pleasant to focus on. This, in turn, can reduce the need for re-scans, call back, and sedation medicine. In addition to patient satisfaction, an investment in a quality, MRI-safe audio system makes good sense financially when you consider the cost of scanner downtime caused by anxious patients.

Simple, scalable audio solutions

Technology is only effective when it gets used. That’s why we design our MRI premium sound system to be simple and easy to operate for technicians and patients. Our hearing protection reduces noise by 29 decibels, well within what’s considered hearing safe for use with an MRI scanner. In other words, it’s a quality investment your patients and technicians will use for years to come. Ready to learn more? Click here to download our brochure.