Performance Evaluation of a Magnetic Resonance Imager with Evidence-Based Decision Making Tools

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging Technology
• Healthcare Systems Engineering
• Diagnostic Imaging Performance

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a crucial non-invasive diagnostic tool widely used in neurology, oncology, and orthopedics.
• Ensuring optimal MRI system performance is vital for accurate diagnoses and effective patient treatment.
• Evaluating aging medical equipment, even after updates, is essential for continued optimal function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the performance of a 16-year-old 1.5T MRI scanner in a public hospital using evidence-based decision-making tools.
• To determine the impact of recent software and hardware updates on the MRI system's performance.
• To establish a model for evaluating complex medical imaging equipment in healthcare facilities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) tools for performance evaluation.
• Established a technical global indicator to quantify MRI system performance.
• Analyzed performance metrics including productivity, availability, and technical aspects.

Main Results:

• The updated MRI system demonstrated good performance indicators in productivity, availability, and technical aspects.
• A key finding revealed that only 50% of the MRI's available time was utilized.
• The evidence-based approach proved successful in evaluating the MRI's performance.

Conclusions:

• The updated MRI system is performing well technically, with positive impacts from hardware and software upgrades.
• Further investigation is recommended to understand the factors limiting the MRI system's utilization to below 50%.
• This evidence-based evaluation methodology can serve as a replicable model for other healthcare institutions.