Optimizing Care and Costs: The Economic and Operational Impact of Portable MRI in the Acute Care Hospital Setting

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose This study evaluates the economic and operational impact of implementing portable magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) as a complement to traditional high‐field MRI (HF‐MRI) in critical care settings. The primary objectives were to assess improvements in turnaround time (TAT), labor efficiency, and cost of care reduction in intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department (ED) workflows. Methods A retrospective analysis of 143 unique patient pMRI brain scans performed over a 12‐month period was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Using Lean process improvement methodology, we compared key performance indicators (KPIs) between HF‐MRI and pMRI workflows in clinically appropriate ICU and ED patients. Metrics included MRI order‐to‐scan time, clinical labor reallocation, and supply‐related cost savings. Results Implementation of pMRI reduced the median TAT by 18.4 h per patient—20.9 h for ICU patients, and 16.6 h for ED/observation patients. The number of scans completed within 5 h increased by 385%, and within 24 h by 29%. Up to 4 h of nursing, respiratory, and transport labor were reallocated per scan. The estimated cost of care savings totaled $82,046.25, with an additional $66,034 saved through the elimination of MRI‐compatible ICU supplies. No safety events were reported during the study period. Conclusions Portable MRI improved imaging access, reduced hospital costs, and optimized labor resources without compromising patient safety. These findings support the integration of pMRI as a valuable adjunct to HF‐MRI in acute care environments, with potential to enhance operational performance and care delivery.