LANSING, MI — A national nonprofit has partnered with University of Michigan Health - Sparrow Lansing to help children overcome their fear of MRI scans through an innovative Lego play set program that's dramatically reducing the need for sedation.
The Starlight Foundation and Lego have created detailed MRI play sets that allow pediatric patients to familiarize themselves with the medical procedure before entering the actual scanning room. The program has been in use at Sparrow Hospital for about a year.
"MRIs are scary. You slide into a machine, its noisy and claustrophobic. Most kids actually need to be sedated," said Adam Garone from the Starlight Foundation.
An MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's internal structures. While the test is non-invasive, the experience can be intimidating for children due to the machine's size, noise and enclosed space.
The Lego sets provide an exact replica of an MRI machine, complete with a movable bed that demonstrates how patients are positioned during the scan. Hospital engineers have modified the sets by mounting them on platforms and securing all parts except the bed, which moves in and out of the tunnel just like the real machine.
"Understanding that its not gonna hurt you just have to hold still. Through our explanation and just looking at that they can figure it out," said Kelly Hebert from Sparrow Hospital.
The play sets are available to patients as young as 3 years old, allowing them to see exactly what the machine looks like and practice the procedure in a non-threatening environment.
"So our engineers put it on a platform and they glue it so the only thing that moves is the bed. So when we are teaching the kids know that nothing touches them and the bed moves in and out of the tunnel," Hebert said.
Both Starlight and Sparrow Child Life experts report the play sets have been transformative, with approximately 50% of pediatric patients no longer requiring sedation for their MRI procedures.
The program extends far beyond Sparrow Hospital, with more than 50 healthcare facilities across Michigan participating in the Starlight Foundation's MRI Lego initiative. Participating hospitals include major medical centers like Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital, and University of Michigan Health facilities, as well as smaller regional hospitals from Alpena to Battle Creek.
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These are the Michigan hospitals who currently have the MRI Lego play set:
Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital
Lapeer County Surgery Center
Trinity Health Grand rapids
Aspire Rural Health System- Deckerville
Trinity Oakland Pediatric Infusion Center
Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Outpatient Center
Marlette Regional Hospital
West Michigan Surgical Center
MyMichigan Medical Center Midland
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
Spectrum Health Hospitals Heart and Lung Transplant Clinic
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital
Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
McLaren Port Huron Hospital
University of MI, Taubman Clinic
St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital
Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan
Port Huron Hospital Foundation
Munson Medical Center
Metro Health University of Michigan Health
McLaren Children's Health Services
Marquette General Hospital
Holland Hospital
Hills and Dales Healthcare
Community Health Center of Branch County
Children's Hospital of Michigan
C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Child and Family Life
Brighton Center for Specialty Care
Corewell Health Children's
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University
Henry Ford St. John Children's Hospital
Alpena Regional Medical Center
Allegiance Health Hospital (Formerly Foote Memorial Hospital)
Trinity Health Oakland Campus
Henry Ford Hospital Bronson Children's Hospital
Sinai Grace Hospital Lakeland Hospital - St. Joseph Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Covenant HealthCare
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Hurley Medical Center
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Beacon Children's Hospital
Ascension Genesys Hospital
Beaumont Hospital Dearborn
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center
Northwest Michigan Surgery Center
Crittenton Hospital
Children's Hospital of Michigan - Stilson Charlevoix Area Hospital
Borgess Medical Center
Bixby Community Health Foundation/ Bixby Medical Center
