A system for monitoring a patient during MRI imaging to prevent patient burns. The system includes a barrel to provide an MRI image of a patient and an infrared camera to image the patient separately from the MRI image. The infrared camera includes an adjustable field of view and is positionable at a plurality of viewing angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The infrared camera is coupled to a processor adapted to monitor the surface temperature of the patient based on the output of the infrared camera. The processor is further adapted to control at least one of the field of view of the infrared camera and/or the viewing angle of the camera during MRI imaging of the patient. The system further includes a patient gown formed of an infrared transmissive material that provides visual concealment for the patient.
