ScanLabMR
A Leap Forward in MRI Simulation-Based Training

“Just like a surgeon who is going through residency, students need to learn by making mistakes; but unfortunately, in the healthcare field, that has to happen on patients,” begins Matthew Hayes, creator and president of ScanLabMR, an Orlando, FL-based healthcare company that is revolutionizing medical imaging with its breakthrough MRI simulation technology. For decades, ‘See one, do one, teach one’ has been the teaching standard; didactic teaching and observation of more experienced colleagues at the bedside followed by an independent performance of clinical procedures on human patients is the traditional model followed to train residents. However, now, medical simulation is slowly taking over the traditional apprentice-style training, enabling students to acquire clinical skills through deliberate practice in a real-life environment without real-life risks and consequences.

Through our offering, we aim to incite the same thoughts and practices usually experienced only at the MRI scanner but without compromising on patient safety and eliminating the time constraints that hinder the learning process,

Tapping into the immense potential of simulation technology, ScanLabMR offers a namesake MRI simulator that can quantify and assess scan quality and clinical competence, revolutionizing the way people learn magnetic resonance. “Through our offering, we aim to incite the same thoughts and practices usually experienced only at the MRI scanner but without compromising on patient safety and eliminating the time constraints that hinder the learning process,” says Hayes. ScanLabMR features an interactive dashboard for administrators and educators.

In contrast to conventional simulators, ScanLabMR provides operational guidance.

For example, within the field of MRI, there are different slice prescription angles and criteria to visualize certain anatomical points of interest. ScanLabMR can prescribe these angles to perfectly scan a particular part of the body. With ScanLabMR, the image a user obtains depends on the angle prescribed; based on the angulation, the software’s performance is quantified.

In the last year, ScanLabMR has helped increase the confidence level of students in patient screening. In fact, in a recent instance, a student from a very small community college in North Carolina learned to use an MRI scanner the right way the very first time with the help of ScanLabMR. “She had no prior experience operating an MRI scanner. With our technology, the very first time she performed a scan, she was close to perfect. Our product speaks for itself,” avers Hayes. With ScanLabMR, users gain a meaningful experience that would normally take months or even years to acquire and be benchmarked against an established standard of excellence.

ScanLabMR’s team is currently looking to expand its horizon. To that end, they are developing a new product, ScanLabCT—similar to ScanLabMR—for CAT scans. Alongside, the firm strives to work with some of the major MRI manufacturers on new projects. “We have got a few global initiatives with our partners. In fact, a few of them are bringing together a conglomerate of schools throughout Europe and the Pacific Islands to start using ScanLabMR. We will continue to enhance user experience and expand on the tools commonly utilized within the MRI landscape,” adds Hayes. Another remarkable move from ScanLabMR is that the team is actively collaborating with prominent children’s hospitals to make pediatric imaging a reality with ScanLabMR. They believe it will eliminate the need to practice on patients. Furthermore, ScanLabMR can alternatively be used as a powerful hiring tool with features that allow employers to evaluate a candidate’s performance prior to hiring, allowing organizations to save tens of thousands of dollars onboarding and training individuals that may not have the necessary skill set. “We are ethical from the start to the finish. We are small and lucky enough to be able to do what feels right to us, focusing on patient care and improving the medical field,” concludes Hayes.