New Ambient Experience MRI service available at Huggins Hospital in early 2026

Big changes are underway at Huggins Hospital’s Medical Imaging Department as the hospital begins construction on an MRI Expansion Project — a major investment in access to patient care. This project will relocate their MRI services from the current outdoor trailer to a new, state-of-the-art indoor facility, dramatically improving the MRI experience and access to services.

The new MRI suite will be located inside the hospital and will feature the Philips Ambient Experience, a technology designed to create a calming environment through soothing visuals, sound and lighting. This improvement is especially beneficial for patients who experience anxiety or claustrophobia during imaging procedures.

Huggins Hospital is proud to announce that the MRI Expansion Project has been generously funded by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. Their support is instrumental in helping Huggins Hospital elevate the quality and accessibility of care the hospital provides to the community.

Benefits of the New MRI service:

• Access to MRI services would increase to more than 4 days/week and will not require a leased mobile unit.

• The new Philips Ambient Experience would be available to all patients with their choice of soothing visuals on the walls and ceiling along with calming lighting and sounds.

• New MRI technology reduces movement in the images, lessening the need to retake images.

• The new MRI will be a hospital-owned service, allowing Huggins Hospital to adapt the service based on the community needs.

The new MRI expansion project is slated to be complete in March of 2026 with the current mobile MRI unit service available until the project is complete.