A $21 million MRI suite has been constructed at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, officials announced Tuesday.
The 6,700-square-foot unit located on the first floor of the hospital’s Cohen Pavilion is home to three Tesla MRI machines, one of which contains a stronger magnet to conduct higher-quality scans and pick up on lesser-detected abnormalities. The 1.5-Tesla MRI machines in the suite are approximately 30,000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field, according to RadiologyToday Magazine, while the 3-Tesla MRI machines are double that.
“MRI is a critical technology for diagnosing a wide range of diseases,” said Jesse Chusid, senior vice president of imaging services at Northwell. “Having access to the latest technology ensures that our radiologists can work with images of the highest quality.”
The new suite is directly next to an existing 3-T magnet, which officials said will help enhance the diagnosis process while decreasing patient turnaround time. Patients with larger body mass will be able to be treated with the suite’s technological resources. North Shore University’s neurological team, officials said, can provide patients suffering from tremors with high-intensity focused ultrasound.
“The new MRI suite was carefully designed to accommodate complex MRI cases such as those involving sedation,” Chusid said. “Advanced monitoring capabilities allow for the safe imaging of patients with implanted cardiac devices.”
The suite replaced a 40-year-old unit and includes a staff lounge, locker room, out-patient reception area, patient bays and radiologist reading rooms, officials said.
“North Shore University Hospital is dedicated to providing the newest technologies to ensure the best clinical outcomes for our patients,” North Shore University Hospital Director David Hirschwerk said. “This updated MRI suite will allow our team to serve more patients and do more for the patients we see.”
