Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), AAAS

MRI is offered in collaboration with other Michigan community colleges through the Michigan Colleges Online (MCO) collaborative. Courses in semesters 1 & 2 are taken at WSCC. Courses indicated as MCO Courses in semesters 3 - 6 contain both didactic coursework, which is completed online, and clinical coursework, which is completed at a partner healthcare facilty local to the student. Students must complete a secondary application process to begin the MCO Course sequence.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, procedures play an important role in diagnosing diseases and injuries. An MRI uses magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the inside of the human body. When a patient lies inside the MRI machine, which is like a large tube, radio waves produce faint signals that create sectional images that are ultimately used by physicians to diagnose medical problems.

MRI technologists are highly trained and possess the expertise for eompetent practice. They are mostly employed by hospitals bu increasingly, jobs are becoming available in physician offices and imaging centers. The main duties of te MRI technologist include explaining the procedure to the patient, preparing the patient and positioning them correctly, operating the equipment, and recording the images for the physician to interpret. The patient might be in pain or distress, or they might feel claustrophobic. The MRI technologist will provide support while talking patients through the procedure and letting them know what to expect.