The SC Plant is Producing the New MRI for
McLeod Health Carolina Forest Hospital 

On May 12, 2026, McLeod Health leaders and staff members visited the GE HealthCare Manufacturing Facility in Florence, S.C., for a behind-the-scenes tour of the MRI production process and the opportunity to sign the 1.5T magnet for the advanced MRI scanner that will be installed at the new McLeod Health Carolina Forest Hospital.

McLeod Health has partnered with GE HealthCare for more than four decades. In addition to obtaining the most advanced MRI systems for its hospitals across the region, over the years McLeod teams have engaged with local GE leaders to learn how they approach problem solving processes using the Lean/Six Sigma business strategy to focus on continuous improvement and operational efficiency. This shared focus has led to McLeod Health developing programs to improve patient care by placing an emphasis on staff using their knowledge and experiences to implement better processes based on what the patient values and how to deliver that service in the most efficient way.

The new MRI system for McLeod Health Carolina Forest Hospital is being built locally at the Florence facility, further highlighting GE HealthCare and McLeod Health’s unified commitment to innovation and exceptional patient care.

“McLeod Health is pleased to continue investing in advanced imaging technology that enhances healthcare for the communities we serve,” said Scott Montgomery, CEO of McLeod Health Carolina Forest and McLeod Health Loris. “Partnering with GE HealthCare on the production of this MRI system for the new McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital reflects the strength of local relationships and our shared commitment to bringing world-class diagnostic imaging closer to home. It’s especially meaningful to work with a company that has such a strong presence in Florence. This is truly local buying local.”

McLeod Health hospitals perform more than 35,000 MRI scans annually on systems that have been produced locally at the Florence GE plant. These MRI units are located at McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Seacoast, McLeod Health Loris, McLeod Orthopaedics, and McLeod Health Carolina Forest.

The GE SIGNA™ Voyager 1.5T being installed at the McLeod Health Carolina Forest Hospital offers radiologists and technologists quick, patient-friendly exams with consistent, optimal image quality. The 1.5T wide bore MRI scanner is designed to be a concise balance of comfort and productivity, with features that improve the patient experience and software that can optimize image quality and reduce exam time. The advanced imaging capability of MRI scanners helps physicians diagnose and monitor a wide range of medical conditions with greater precision and accuracy.

The McLeod Health Carolina Forest Hospital is a $90 million, four-story, 48-bed facility scheduled to open in August 2026. The first new hospital in Horry County since McLeod Health Seacoast opened in 2011, the facility has been thoughtfully designed and equipped to offer 24/7 emergency services, inpatient care, surgical procedures, advanced imaging technology, and enhanced, patient-centered care for the growing Carolina Forest community.

McLeod is pleased to partner with GE in providing patients with the latest, most advanced imaging technology, designed to improve patient experience by offering greater comfort and faster, clearer results.