1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Program
  2. General Information for Study Groups

General Information for Study Groups

 

CLICK HERE FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SCAN PROCEDURES

 

  • Masks are optional, but strongly preferred, especially for participants. The MRI Unit will provide metal-free masks for participants. 
     

  • We will keep the bore fan on during the entire scan in order to move air through and out of the bore, and this may make the temperature feel a little cooler than normal when scanning. We'll do our best to keep plenty of blankets on hand, but our allocation from environmental services is divided amongst the patient wards as well, so we try to conserve where possible. That being said you may want to ask your participants to wear something with sleeves if they tend to run cold. We will still offer gowns, but the participants will be asked to change in the restroom. The lockers and change room are off limits for now. 
     

  • You will still wand the participant like normal, however this will be done in the "ON DECK" area which is indicated with fancy green tape on the floor. The tech will hand you the wand, you'll use it, hand it back, and the tech will clean it.  DO NOT BRING YOUR PARTICIPANT IN BEFORE CHECKING IN WITH THE SCANNER OPERATOR.
     

  • Button boxes: Those will be kept in the magnet room. In order to keep the button boxes functional and free from defect, we currently ask that groups inform the operator on duty of whichever box they need and it will be connected by the operator for the groups. 
     

  • If your participant needs corrective lenses, please know the prescription ahead of time. Glasses will be sanitized after use.
     

  • The Forms page has the MRI Unit Screener and pregnancy sign-off sheet, which are on REDCap. There will be no more hand-written billing sheets, but Shiva will send you a copy of the billing sheet the morning of the scan. Please send PDFs of all forms to the tech doing the scan. It will either be:

 

PLEASE save or print a copy to keep for your group. You'll also be required to attach a copy of all forms to the MRI Unit Screener. 
 

  • We will have a plastic bin for your participants to put anything they might bring with them that they haven't left upstairs as well as any items they may need to remove last minute. We ask that they avoid bringing bags or excessive belongings of any kind. 
     

  • Try to bring minimal things with you other than what's needed. Phones, a book, a laptop, a water bottle, those are all fine, and of course anything you need for the scan itself. Please don't bring bags or food containers. There is a line on both the desk and the floor, once again in that fancy green tape. This is the "social distance line" for the tech. We ask that no one comes any closer to the tech and/or console than this line during the scan. 
     

  •  Groups will not be allowed to run over time more than five minutes or so (and only if really necessary)
     

For any questions on this policy, please contact the MRI unit via Matthew.Riddle@nyspi.columbia.edu 

 

The scanner is now operating at 100% capacity, with a 15 minute gap between scheduled scans that will likely remain in place indefinitely. Operating hours are 8am-8pm M-F and 9am-5pm on weekends (depending on need).

Back to main MRI page