Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care
Tampa
12220 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612
Pediatric MRI
Families from St. Petersburg, Tampa, and surrounding communities will appreciate the convenience and quality of the only MRI facilities in the Tampa Bay area that are dedicated exclusively to children and their special healthcare needs.
Contact Us
Parents who have a prescription for an MRI can call the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Radiology Department at 727-767-8497, or 1-800-456-4543, ext. 8497 to schedule an appointment for Tampa or St. Petersburg or request an appointment online.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care, Tampa
Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care, St. Petersburg
Outpatient Care Center
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
601 5th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
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MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, a type of diagnostic imaging that scans a part of the body (the brain, the abdomen or the lower leg, for example). MRI uses radio waves and magnetic fields as it scans parts of the body and generates signals that powerful computers can transform into amazingly detailed images of the human body. This technology has been safely used since 1981.
Many times MRI can provide doctors with information about a child's condition that other types of imaging (X-rays, "CAT" scans or ultrasound) can't provide. MRI can be especially useful in looking at the brain, spine, soft tissue, muscle, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bone marrow and blood vessels. Learn more about MRI.
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The difference is in the pediatric staff: nurses, techs, pediatric anesthesiologists and pediatric radiologists with years of experience in children's unique medical problems and psychological needs.
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A big advantage of pediatric MRI is that children who are 8 or older often feel comfortable and confident enough to remain still during the scan (the average scan time is 45 minutes). When a child is awake for a scan, a parent can even stay in the room during the scan.
Children younger than 8 usually need anesthesia to help them remain still during the scan. For these children, parents can trust our pediatric anesthesiologists to provide the very best in care.
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No, because those scanners can't produce many of the special sequences available with a more traditional scanner. Often those procedures require more time to collect enough images, so the scans take longer or just aren't successful for children.
The MRI scanner at Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care, Tampa is what's called a short-bore scanner. That means it can provide the enhanced pictures of traditional scanners even though not as much of a child's body will need to be in the "tunnel" of the scanner.
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There's nothing painful about an MRI. It can be noisy though - the magnet makes noise as it takes "pictures." When children need an IV for contrast dye or sedation, our MRI nurses have a gentle touch that comes with years of experience.
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Your child's doctor can call to schedule a scan.
Parents who have a prescription for a MRI can call the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Radiology Department at 727-767-8497, or 1-800-456-4543, ext. 8497.