Photo: From the left-SBC Director of Clinic & Ancillary Services Beth Brosam, Dr. Cody White, radiology technologist Toni Marjerison, Dr. David Kane and Chris Kapor officially launch MRI services last Friday, March 21.
Stillwater residents now have access to MRI services locally as part of an extended service line offered at Stillwater Billings Clinic in Columbus.
Officially launched March 21, the mobile MRI unit will be available at SBC every other Friday each month, offering the majority of scans available at free-standing imaging centers.
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It uses radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the body’s internal structures, allowing doctors to diagnose and monitor conditions affecting soft tissues, organs, bones and blood vessels, including tumors, injuries and diseases. There is no radiation used in MRI imaging.
The first full day of imaging was completely booked with 10 residents who had been placed on a waiting list in anticipation of the service. Until now, patients needing MRI imaging had to travel to Billings or other regional locations.
“Patients have been eagerly awaiting local access to MRI and they are very happy to be able to get the service right here, close to home,” said SBC Family Medicine physician Dr. Cody White.
Friday’s launch was the culmination of several years of work by the Stillwater Billings Clinic medical staff, CEO Luke Kobold, Director of Clinic & Ancillary Services Beth Brosam, Director of Nursing Natasha Sailer and the board of directors. This group identified and supported the need for local MRI services and then worked through the extensive logistical and financial arrangements to make it a reality. Some of those upgrades included building a parking pad for the MRI trailer, having appropriate electricity and working through clinical staffing for providing local MRI services.
Actually cutting the ribbon was beloved retired physician Dr. David Kane, who will still occasionally fill in at the clinic, as he has done periodically since his retirement in 2023. Kane credited the project as a true organizational effort, including the community that donated the money for the project through the Jewel of the Stillwater fundraising events.
Kane said the benefit to the community is tremendous.
“This means our patients can get this care right here and reduce travel. Waiting times will be markedly reduced,” said Kane. “We have done multiple studies over the years on the number of MRI referrals and it just makes sense to add this service. The community wants and needs as many services as possible close to home. This shows SBC is committed to moving forward.”
Kane also credited Kobold, Brosam and Sailer with doing the majority of work on the logistical and financial end. Kane also noted that such an expansion of services is important because many small hospitals across the county are struggling and many have closed.
