By Laura Lane
"We have brought the best in technology to Merrick, and our radiologists are board certified in subspecialties," said Jim Spera, director of marketing. "The technology we have in our office competes with the Mayo and Cleveland clinic."
If you're claustrophobic, getting an MRI can be traumatic. A number of patients opt for an open or stand-up MRI. But the strength of the magnet in these machines isn't as high as the traditional MRI machine, in which patients are enclosed.
Zwanger-Pesiri offers the 1.5 Tesla High Field Open Bore MRI. Providing greater comfort, with more head, leg and elbow room, patients remain in the open 70 percent of the time. A patient's head is outside the machine, and the test is complete in 15 minutes.
The 1.5 Open Bore MRI also accommodates larger patients up to 500 pounds. Bob Shults, an MRI technologist at Zwanger-Pesiri, said that before the new open bore model, it was difficult to get a good reading on highly overweight people.
"The Open Bore MRI gives big people an option," said Shults. "And our Open Bore MRI has 1.5 strength, which is two to five times more powerful than the open or stand-up MRIs."
Zwanger-Pesiri also has an ultra-high field 3.0 Tesla MRI, which is enclosed. Used for neurological, cervical spine and orthopedic imaging, it is superior to the 1.5 Open Bore MRI. Zwanger-Pesiri is the only outpatient facility on Long Island performing MRIs at this strength. Five to 10 times the strength of open and stand-up units, it can scan five to 10 times as fast.
Comfort is also important at Zwanger-Pesiri. Patients are offered satellite radio during testing, and because the room is soundproof, the sound of the machine does not echo, making the experience calmer.
Jean Harrison came from Point Lookout to have an MRI at Zwanger-Pesiri. She chose the Open Bore MRI. "I found it to be quick and a good experience," Harrison said, adding that it was her first MRI. "They really put you at ease here, and I didn't have a trapped feeling at all."
Zwanger-Pesiri also offers a 64 slice CT Scanner. "This is considered the gold standard," Spera said. "Before people would always have to have an angiogram. Now people who don't need an angiogram can have their coronary arteries checked. With the 64 Slice CT Scanner, the soft plaques can be seen; they're the ones that break off and go into the heart from the coronary artery."
Among Zwanger-Pesiri's other benefits are the radiologists who specialize in breast imaging. "One in four women on Long Island are diagnosed with a form of breast cancer," Shults said. "It's important to have doctors who specialize in breast imaging, which we have."
Not only is Zwanger-Pesiri on the cutting edge medically, but it has also taken great care to create an atmosphere of professionalism. In the lobby there are several small trees and colorful flowers, along with many comfortable leather chairs. Sunshine streams through the large windows, and even though the office is busy, there is a sense of quietude.
"Our goal is the patient's comfort," said Martha Sandoval, the office manager. "They come here afraid, not knowing what to expect. We try to expedite their experience and give them all the attention and courtesy possible."
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology
Year established: 2007 for its Merrick location; company founded in 1952
Number of employees: 15 to 20
Address: 2012 Sunrise Highway, Merrick
Services: Offers the latest diagnostic technology that the medical field has to offer, including the revolutionary 64 Slice CT Scan, 3.0 Tesla Ultra High Field MRI, 1.5 Tesla High Field Open Bore MRI, SPECT Nuclear Medicine, ultrasound, digital X-ray, digital mammography, stereotactic biopsy, interventional radiology and DEXA bone densitometry
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (516) 868-9300
Web site: www.zwangerpesiri.com
