CROWN POINT – Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point has announced it is adding an open magnetic resonance imaging system which will be the only one of its kind in Lake and Porter counties.

Installation of the Oasis, the Hitachi company’s open MRI, will begin soon at St. Anthony’s Outpatient Health Complex.

Unlike closed units, the open MRI contains no narrow tunnels through which patients must travel, or disturbing noises associated with image generation, which helps decrease patient anxiety and discomfort. Patients also are able to move around, which is not permitted with a closed system.

“We are pleased to offer this new technology to the community. Although open MRI is not a new concept, this latest Hitachi technology offers diagnostic image quality that leaps beyond standard systems presently in use in this country,” said David Ruskowki, hospital president.