BECKLEY, W.Va. – Officials from Beckley ARH Hospital and the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of the hospital’s new MRI Caring Suite Thursday evening.

Beckley ARH is the only hospital in the region and the first among ARH’s 14 hospitals to offer an MRI Caring Suite, which is designed to offer a more comfortable patient experience while also offering more procedures and producing higher quality imaging results.

“Our commitment to providing the best patient care possible is the driving force behind every investment and every change we make here at Beckley ARH,” said hospital CEO Todd Howell. “This caring suite is the culmination of a lot of work and planning, and we are just so happy to be able to offer these services that enable patients to stay close to home.”

Robin Maynor, interim director of radiology at Beckley ARH, explained how the caring suite can help reduce anxiety.

“It’s significantly larger than an average MRI machine and most patients can be scanned feet first, leaving their head out in the open,” she said, adding those who suffer from claustrophobia often struggle with testing.

Rather than traditional ear plugs, MRI patients will be provided with cushioned headphones on which they can listen to whatever they choose, be it music, a podcast or an audiobook.

“We have music, but they can use their own device and Bluetooth whatever they want to hear,” Maynor explained.

Even the lighting is taken into account in the suite as patients can select the room’s color scheme.

“Everything about the experience, even down to the coils on the bed, is designed for comfort,” said Beckley ARH COO Joey Preast.

Just as important as the comfort, Maynor and Preast said, are the medical capabilities of the new machine, as, in addition to traditional tests, it also allows for breast and prostate MRIs.

“From the patient experience to the image quality – the MRI Caring Suite is top of the line,” Preast said. “This is something that was desperately needed in this area and we’re excited and honored to be able to provide it.”

ARH Vice President of Ancillary Services Carrie Rudzik echoed the sentiment.

“Being referred for advanced imaging can be scary, but Beckley ARH aims to ease some of those tensions through this caring suite,” she said. “We are honored to serve the community, and this new service is another demonstration of our commitment.”

Pictured: Joey Preast, COO, Todd Howell, CEO, Carrie Rudzik, ARH VP Ancillary Services, Leah Mollette, Beckley ARH Director of Ancillary Services and Michelle Rotellini, CEO and President of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce. 

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