Shields MRI Brighton

I showed up early for my MRI so that my anti anxiety meds would have a chance to take effect. Due to a lack of communication from the front desk, I was taken back much sooner than I was ready for. That being said, the tech was very patient and gave me enough time to get my wits about me before entering till he tube of doom!
Good news, I made it thorough! Bad news, I had to not more for having/​needing an open MRI than had I gone for a regular MRI that I failed at before. So, if you really require an open MRI come here, otherwise stick with your hospitals machine and pay a normal copay!

It seems silly to rate an MRI place, amIright? Although I was dreading getting an MRI today the staff here was extremely friendly and thorough with details. The woman at the front desk was warm and welcoming and I was promptly taken back to discuss the ‘procedure’ with my MRI person — what’s their official title? I digress.
Prior to going into the room we reviewed everything that would go on during the process. IV, solution, noises, no metal, MUSIC!, holding your breath, etc. Yes, you get to listen to XM Radio while getting your MRI done which makes time pass a little bit quicker.
All in all it was a seamless process. Do I want to go back? No. I’m hoping not any time soon, but at least the staff here made the experience not as terrible as it could have been.

I was dreading an MRI but thankfully I was helped every step of the way by the sensitive, warm, intelligent, patient, and caring of the team that helped me from start to finish: Heartfelt thanks to PATRICE, LEYANNA, AND HARY. Without their support and extreme kindness I would not have been able to go through with the test. They made it almost :) pleasurable ! Highly recommended if you ever need an MRI that is. They are indeed experts at their jobs.

Shields has very good personal, it’s very clean, very professional. What they do not have is OPEN MRI machine at any of their locations. They have a wide-​bore MRI which is 4″ larger than a closed-​bore MRI machine. If you have claustrophobia you need to consider another company that supplies a truely OPEN MRI machine. Pending your condition, you and your doctor need to discuss the differences and the need the doctor /​radiologist has as far as reading the MRI. Again there is a big difference between wide-​bore (4″ larger) and a actual OPEN MRI machine.

Everyone was perfectly nice, but I was made to wait for over an hour past my scheduled appointment time.

Had to go to Shields after a spill on Halloween. Clean place and staff was friendly and helpful. They even played some good electronica music as I got cooked in the machine.

ok. so here is a review from someone who knew they had SOME claustrophobia, but little did i know just how much until i was strapped tightly over my stomach and chest so i felt like i couldn’t move or breath well, then slid about 2 feet into the tube before my mind and my adrenaline overrides my body. i freaked. thought i could go in with my eyes shut. but with the pillow under my head, my face was VERY close to the machine. my tech was amazing. she handled my panic very well. with the automatic tears starting to flow down my face. i asked if i could go feet first. she didn’t realize the benefit to this. but my mind knew the entrance and i wanted it as close to that part as possible. plus the one in chelmsford, has a lovely light glass ceiling of sky and trees so you felt that you were laying on a scenic field looking at the clouds. it took about 10 min for me to calm myself down, then she let me go in feet first to see if i could do it. and told me if i couldn’t it was ok. i really wanted to get this test done to get to the bottom of my issues. i decided that laying with my arms above my head (so i didn’t feel the machine on either side of me) with no pillow and my head looking straight up, so i could see that ceiling, was what worked for me. it was the longest 30min of my life. and she kept asking if i was ok. happy thoughts got me thru. but i realized i do not like this, and never want on again. i explained to my tech why feet first worked. and explained that if you were to be lowered into a skinny well, or hole, and possibly needed to get out on your own, would you want to go HEAD first, or feet first…? ya. feet it is. but the place was friendly, and clean, and they must have some training in claustrophobia to be able to help those of us out that need a little mental boot camp to get into that machine willingly. thank you Shields of Chelmsford!

You know how much fun it is to get an MRI? No? Well let me tell you!
First off, you need to do something amusing to your body, like being hit by a truck! Then, you need to see a doctor who says «Uh oh, better get an MRI» so you quickly schedule the appointment so he can see your joint exactly as it is which means you’re probably going in really early.
Next there’s the waking up early part (cuz you were right. 7:40 report time, ouch!) and trapsing in through the cold.
As though this wasn’t amusing enough you’ll be flat on your back inside a claustrophobia-​inducing tube lying COMPLETELY STILL while a very loud machine clacks and clangs around you.
So why four stars? Well, because shields didn’t make me hate it. The receptionist was super-​friendly, the techs were AMAZING (especially when I apparently twitched somehow and screwed up a scan), AND they let me pick my XM station (side note: at lower volumes most new alternative sounds like old sisters of mercy. who knew?). Oh, and did I mention the free wifi? YES! free wifi while you wait!
So awesome. Ok, so while I never ever want to come back, I think this place is totally amazing.
HEARTS YOU SHIELDS!

Well the MRI process is not an especially pleasant one in any way — it involves laying still for over 30 minutes while inserted into the MRI machine (I am sure it has a fancy formal name). The magnets which take the pictures are extremely noisy and having dye injected into your body is not fun either.
However, if you do have to go through the MRI process, I really recommend Shields MRI. The place is super clean, and the staff is kind, professional and helpful. All my questions were patiently answered I felt that I am in good hands.

I came here because it had an open MRI machine. the regular kind spooked me. They are very professional, friendly, and the place is clean. The actual technician who performed the MRI was very friendly, he clearly explained the process, and was gentle when injecting me with the special dye. I felt like he cared. Doing this made the whole process go smoothly. I came back after my surgery and it was again professional.

To be honest, I never want to see this place again. Who would? It means your body is screwed up, probably due to your own stupidity, and you had to skip work/​school/​Bravo marathons to have medical professionals point this painful truth out to you. Thanks for the shiny blue prescrip, Doc. Your tsk-tsk’s are noted.
Yes, I fucked up my shoulder because I thought it’d be a good idea to let my body go parallel to the ground and land on it. Arm bone/​connected to the/​BIGSWOLLENBALLINSOCKETICANTMOVE. My orthopaedic surgeon, this guy, he says to me, he says «Get an MRI. Now.» Then he sends me on my way.
First and foremost, Shields offers complimentary shuttling to and from their location. Ideal if say, you broke your driving bone. Second, the office, while boring and brick on the outside, was extremely clean and actually welcoming. Free coffee in the lobby, cable TV with Oprah’s big smiling head, new issues of Time, National Geographic, Seventeen and Sports Illustrated, plastic plantlife, etc. Guess what I stared at in my five minute wait? C’mon, guess. Wrong.
The employees are incredibly friendly and polite to no end. They recognize the intimidation of MRIs and the medieval death chambers that produce them, thereby striving for total patient service. I felt at ease putting my pocket contents in a locker, totally calm when they asked if I had metal in my eyes, completely relaxed when they conveyor belted my frozen body into a large mechanical vagina. Did I mention XM radio while magnetic waves paint the grayscale landscape of my physical manifestation in 30 minutes or less? OH YEAH!
Point being: the procedure was quick and painless, with genuine concern about my comfort through the entire process. Stay away if you can; however, if Lady Injury comes a-​knockin’, Shields will keep your van a-​rockin’. So says the bumper sticker.