Who will I meet in MRI?
The first person you meet will be our friendly receptionist that checks you in for your scan.
Then, you will meet the person who takes your pictures and he/she is called an MRI Technologist or a Radiographer.
They’ll let you know everything that you need to do and can answer any questions you might have! They will also give you a movie list to choose the movie you like to watch during your scan.
Other people you might meet are: nurses, a child life therapist and doctor called a Radiologist – that’s the doctor that looks at your pictures.
We are all very friendly and we want you to have a great time at the new Monash Children's Hospital.
What will I see?
MRI CAMERA -->
MRI CAMERA
The MRI camera is pretty big, but it needs to be so it can take pictures of your whole body! It looks a bit like a tunnel you might see at the playground.
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MRI COIL
This is a special helmet with a mirror that helps you watch a movie while you’re in the tunnel. It clicks in beside your head and won’t move or touch you. If you have pictures taken of your legs or abdomen (tummy), you will probably go into the tunnel feet first, and you won’t need this. But you’ll still get to watch a movie using a different mirror.
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MRI HEADPHONES
The camera can be noisy when it takes the pictures, so you’ll be given some headphones – these will help you listen to your movie and block some of the camera sounds.
What else should I know?
It is important to be honest but considerate of your child’s developmental level. It is a good idea to start by explaining to your child why they need the scan. Explain that having contrast will allow the people at the hospital to get the best pictures. Children over the age of 5 generally cope best when they are informed of their procedure the week prior, and are given the opportunity to process the information and ask questions. Children under 5 are best told about their appointment the day before. You are encouraged to explore the Okee app games and to discuss the content with your child before their appointment.
How can YOU help?
Keeping still
It’s really important to keep still while having your picture taken, just like when you have your photo taken with a phone or camera. If you move around, the picture can be blurry, and we may need to take that picture again. Otherwise, you just need to relax while you listen to your favourite music or watch the movie you've chosen/brought and YES it is okay to breathe normally, blink and stay relaxed.
What to bring
You might need to wait around before your picture can be taken so it’s a good idea to bring some things to keep you busy – a tablet, books, or toys that you can play with while you wait. Otherwise, you can check out our Interactive Wall, where you can pop a balloon, play with fish or different themes you may change by asking our friendly receptionists. If you have a favourite soft toy, they can come with you - and have their picture taken too if they don’t have any metal parts. You can also bring your favourite movie to watch while having your pictures taken!
What to wear
The best clothes to wear are comfy ones! The MRI camera has magnets in it, so it’s really important to wear clothes with NO metal – that includes zippers, metal buttons or press studs, as well as any jewellery or metal hair ties. This also includes clothes with glitter or sequins. If you forget, the MRI radiographer can give you a hospital scrubs/gown to wear instead. This goes for your parents too if they’re staying with you in the MRI room.
How can PARENTS help?
It is important, to be honest, but considerate of your child’s age and developmental level. It is a good idea to start by explaining to your child why they need the scan. Explain that it is just like having a photo taken where you need to keep still so the pictures are not blurry. It is just like watching a movie laying down especially when the MRI machine is making noises, which is when the MRI machine is taking pictures. Also, they may be having contrast, which will allow the people at the hospital to get the best pictures and for the doctors to find out and fix the problems that they are having.
Children under 5 are best told about their appointment the day before. Children over the age of 5 generally cope best when they are informed of their procedure the week prior and are given the opportunity to process the information and ask questions. If your child is booked for Child Life Therapy, explain to your child that they are heading to the hospital to check out our new playground facilities.
Some MRI Scans requires fasting and minimum preparation. So please refer to your appointment letter for further instructions.
More importantly, please assist us by filling out the MRI Safety Questionnaire form, and if you answered YES to anything or unsure of anything, please contact us so we can assist you. If you cannot make the scheduled appointment or running late, please also contact us so we can make a better arrangement for you, and other parents and their children won't be affected also.