Mount Nittany Health has marked a significant occasion in its persistent pursuit of superior diagnostic services and patient-focused care with the recent completion of the prolonged renovation of the Diagnostic Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Initiated back in 2022, the refurbishment initiative has led to advancements in clinical technology, patient access, and hospital work environment. The project’s final phase witnessed the overhaul of the MRI division; a new 3.0T MRI system was installed, introducing superior resolution studies such as ultra-detailed neurological and prostate imaging, a first for the region.
Furthermore, an existing 1.5T MRI system received a full upgrade, enhancing scheduling efficiency and reducing scan periods by approximately 10 minutes on average. These enhancements ensure swifter, more accurate diagnostics, thereby enhancing patient and provider access to local services. Amy Trithart, Chief Human Resources and Ancillary Services Officer, has lauded this project as a manifestation of Mount Nittany Health’s commitment to not just patient care but also to its dedicated team members that bring it to fruition.
Providing around-the-clock operation, the Diagnostic Pavilion’s imaging department carries out close to 160,000 imaging studies annually, encompassing over 48,000 CT scans, 10,000 MRIs, 18,000 ultrasounds, and 20,000 mammograms. With the regional population’s uptick, particularly among retirees, the necessity for diagnostic services is forecasted to augment. The remodeling initiative was not limited to clinical improvements but also encompassed the overhauling of the staff areas to better accommodate frontline care providers.
Several enhancements featured in the upgrade include modernized locker and dressing rooms, dedicated RN workstations, and enhanced staff lounges. Strategically reconfigured layout brings the Pavilion in closer vicinity to the Emergency Department, thus ensuring expedited, more coordinated care for patients in dire need of urgent imaging. For patients, the pavilion now showcases contemporary waiting spaces and streamlined workflows aimed to mitigate wait times and maximize comfort.