Five rural hospitals across Northern California have joined forces to restore and expand access to MR services through a shared mobile imaging program.

The new initiative will rotate a mobile MR unit among the participating sites on a weekly basis, providing diagnostic imaging to patients in Plumas, Modoc and Shasta counties.

The effort includes Seneca Healthcare District in Chester, Plumas District Hospital in Quincy, Eastern Plumas Health Care in Portola, Modoc Medical Center in Alturas, and Mayers Memorial Hospital District in Fall River Mills. All five are designated critical access hospitals, serving a combined population of more than 20,000 residents.
The partnership follows a suspension of MR services at Seneca Hospital in October, after equipment issues sidelined a third-party trailer previously used for imaging. Under the new arrangement, the hospitals are jointly coordinating mobile services to ensure uninterrupted access to MR scans in their communities.

“This is a historic moment for rural health care in Northern California,” said Shawn McKenzie, CEO of Seneca Healthcare District. “By working together, we hope to achieve something none of us could have done alone.”

Access to MR imaging is often limited in rural areas due to high costs and logistical barriers.

The mobile MR service is intended as a near-term solution, while the hospitals explore the purchase of a dedicated unit that would be jointly owned and managed. Such a move would give the network greater control over scheduling, reduce reliance on third-party vendors, and potentially lower long-term costs.

“We’re proud to bring this service back to our community and remain committed to expanding access to advanced medical care,” said Brady Haynes, Seneca’s chief operating officer.

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