Mount Nittany Health opens first phase of $36.5M new diagnostic wing project. What to know

Leadership at Mount Nittany Medical Center opened up the first phase of a new diagnostic wing Monday that will allow for faster and more accurate imaging capabilities.

“It’s important that we have the latest and greatest available right here in Centre County, and this project is really enabling us to do that,” said Kathleen Rhine, CEO of Mount Nittany Health.

The new CT scanners will be “quicker, less radiation, improved diagnostic quality,” according to Jacob Alexander, the head of radiology at the facility.

Mount Nittany performs 140 CT scans every weekday and 90 on weekend days — totaling more than 40,000 last year alone.

The hospital will also be adding a new 1.5 Tesla MRI, which will also have improved imaging and diagnostic quality, according to Alexander, as well as adding a three Tesla magnet MRI, or 3T.

“It’s something state-of-the-art, something that you can’t find,” Alexander said. “This will be the first 3T in the area.”

The new MRIs will be able to more accurately image the prostate, spine and brain, according to Alexander, and the 3T specifically is better at muscular and orthopedic imaging.

Larry Garman Jr., Head of Imaging Services at the hospital said that the new pavilion will take shape in three phases — the first of which includes the new CT machines and fluoroscopy/X-ray capacities.

Next will come a new waiting area, clerical area, and a new X-Ray. The updated MRIs, along with a new breakroom, will come as a part of the third and final stage of construction of the $36.5 million project.