A Northland hospital is in the running to win a national contest.

Ely Bloomenson Community hospital could win a new MRI machine come the first of the year... but, as Chris Buckley reports, they need your help.

It's celebrating fifty years... and the staff at Ely Bloomensen community hospital have the perfect anniversary gift all picked out.

A new Siemens MRI machine... one they could win if they get enough local support.

"It's a million and a half dollar machine, a machine that would be very expensive for us to purchase."

"As is stands now, this is Ely-Bloomenson's MRI - a portable truck that pulls up, hooks up, and takes patients right in the parking lot. No matter what the weather."

"It comes up once a week and depending on the weather it's either amiable for the patient or not amiable for the patient."

"When the patients aren't here they have to travel over 100 miles to have an MRI."

That's why the hospital entered an online contest for the new machine.. dozens of staff members helped with the entry video... and thousands have voted for it.

Ely-Bloomenson is currently in fourth place out of nearly one hundred hospitals across the country.. even though at just 25 beds, it's one of the smallest competitors.

"We're one of the smaller communities that's involved in this, two of them are quite a bit bigger, so we're kind of the David versus the Goliath here, and we're a smaller community on top of that, about 10,000 so we have to work twice as hard, and that's what we're doing."

Because of it's location , the hospital sees more than 125-thousand patients a year... and the new machine would complement the existing technology in the Radiology department.

"It's a gift of health for the holidays.
With the number of visits that come to Ely our location, we're a place where an MRI would provide a benefit the whole community.
So if you've ever wanted to help out the underdog, here's your chance."

Hospital administrators say other area hospitals are showing their support... and they're hoping viewers across the Northland will do the same.

They've set up a direct link to vote at www. Dot ely mri dot com.

"It's important for a small town. We like to keep the patient well cared for with the latest technology at home."

[ "Give the gift of health with the click of your mouse." ]

In Ely Chris Buckley Range 11 News.

The contest runs until the end of the year, and Ely Bloomeson has already received nearly sixty thousand votes.

You can vote up to once a day per computer and sign up for daily reminders to vote at Ely MRI dot com.