Comfort in Wide-Bore MRI [Dave Johnson]

My name is Dave Johnson and I've lived in Brookings, South Dakota for, oh boy, well over 20 some years.

What procedure brought you to Brookings Health System?

I came to Brookings Health System for the MRI, was concerned, it was suggested from my practitioner to come here and have this done. And so they set up the time and everything for me.

How was your experience in the new MRI machine?

She says, "What kind of music do you like?" And I said, "60's tunes." She says, "Okay." She went and she got me a little pillow and then I describe it as a wrestler helmet type thing that they put on over your head. It's where it's open and everything like that but it goes over your head and on your face. She made me feel very, very comfortable and that's a big part so that I could relax and lay down. She had a pillow under, I'm listening to music, I've got my eyes closed and I'll tell you, it was over before I knew it. I don't know how many minutes it takes for doing that, but it seemed like when I had one outside here when you had that building, I thought I was in there for a couple of days, the way it felt like.

How did the new MRI machine compare to your past experience?

The noise. I mean, jeez. I thought I was in New York City or someplace it was so noisy. We got that done, but it seemed like it took forever. And now, this one here, the place where you lay down on is larger so it fits a bigger person and I had enough room. I'm not small, you know, I'm 6'1 or so, close 300 pounds and so I'm not a small guy. But she made me very comfortable and she comes in there afterwards, "Oh," you know, "it's over!"

Why did you choose Brookings Health System for your MRI?

Number one, it's local. And so I didn't have to drive very far and think about all the traffic in bigger cities. I was treated like I was at a five-star motel and I just like the down-home type feeling that I get when I come here. They're not just a number that's working here, they're a team. And a team is what makes things happen, I feel.

How did the staff support you?

All these hospitals got basically the same kind of equipment, but they don't always have the same personnel. And that's a key I think in most anything, whether it's a retail business or like the business I was in, or in the business as far as of running a great hospital.

Would you recommend Brookings Health System?

Myself, I'd highly recommend Brookings Hospital. I was treated just great. If I had to have an MRI again I would want to come here to have it because I don't know at other places how they would be treating me, but I do know how I was treated at the Brookings Hospital here. And that's one of the big things that made come back. 

What did you appreciate most about Brookings Health System?

I can't thank enough to the Brookings Hospital for getting me through my difficult times as far as health is concerned and also as far as where my wife and my children, when they were younger, it was Brookings Hospital that we came to. I feel comfortable about coming here and if you can feel comfortable about coming to a hospital, that tells you a lot of things right there. Because I know whatever they find out and whatever the procedure they have to do, they're looking out for my health. They want Dave to be around here for more years.

Are you one of Brookings Health System's grateful patients who would like to give back to us? Learn more about how you can give back at brookingshealth.org/MyThanks.