Patients with pacemakers and implantable defibrillators in Limestone County can now access specialized MRI services closer to home after Athens-Limestone Hospital added the capability as part of a broader expansion by Huntsville Hospital Health System.
Athens-Limestone joins Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital in offering MRI services for patients with cardiac devices, extending the specialized capability beyond Madison County for the first time within the health system.
Historically, patients with pacemakers and defibrillators were often unable to undergo MRI scans due to concerns that magnetic fields could interfere with device function. Even as MRI-compatible devices became more common, scans typically required in-person technical support from cardiac device specialists, sometimes delaying critical imaging by weeks or months.
HH Health has addressed that barrier through remote programming technology that allows specially trained radiology teams to connect in real time with cardiac device specialists during MRI procedures, safely adjusting eligible devices for imaging without requiring on-site support.
Sam Dean, executive vice president of regional hospital operations for HH Health, said the expansion reflects how the health system is designed to work.
“This addition is a prime example of our health system working as it should — reducing barriers, expanding access and bringing more advanced care directly to the communities we serve,” Dean said. “By strategically leveraging innovation and collaboration across our hospitals, we are making it easier for more patients to receive excellent care without leaving North Alabama.”
Athens-Limestone Hospital President Traci Collins said the local imaging and radiology teams drove the effort to bring the technology to Limestone County.
“This is a meaningful step forward for our patients and community,” Collins said. “Our Imaging and Radiology teams worked together to bring this technology to Athens-Limestone, helping reduce delays and ensuring more patients in Limestone County and across our region can receive critical diagnostic care when they need it most.”
MRI is among the most effective tools available for diagnosing cancer, neurological disorders, heart conditions and orthopedic injuries. For patients, the expanded access can mean faster diagnoses and less need to travel outside the region for care.
Huntsville Hospital Health System serves more than 1.5 million people across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee and employs more than 21,000 people.
