St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City now operates five advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, forming one of the most comprehensive MRI fleets in the country. The expansion improves access, speeds up turnaround times, and enhances patient experience, reinforcing the hospital’s push for timely, high-quality diagnostics.
With five machines in operation, the hospital can accommodate a higher volume of studies while maintaining flexibility for urgent and emergency cases. Stat examinations can be prioritized without disrupting scheduled scans, reducing waiting times across all patient groups.
Head of the Institute of Radiology, Dr. Maricar P. Reyes, said the upgrade addresses a long-standing concern.
“The most common feedback we received was the delay in scheduling. With five MRI units now fully operational, we are able to offer faster access while preserving image quality and patient comfort,” she said.
Rather than relying on a single system, the hospital’s MRI capability is built on a mix of field strengths, allowing imaging protocols to be matched to both the clinical requirement and the patient. Its 3.0 Tesla MRI delivers high-resolution imaging for complex neurological cases, prostate studies, epilepsy evaluation, and research applications.
Three 1.5 Tesla systems serve as the workhorses for routine and advanced scans, covering brain, spine, abdominal, and musculoskeletal imaging.
The newest addition, a 0.55 Tesla system, expands options further. Designed as a more sustainable, helium-light platform, it offers “metal-clear” imaging suited for post-surgical follow-ups and patients with implants. It uses AI-assisted imaging to maintain strong diagnostic clarity while improving comfort through a more open design, flexible coils, and lower noise levels. The system is particularly useful for children, elderly patients, and those with pain or limited mobility, and is less sensitive to motion and metal-related artifacts.
“Each MRI system has a specific role. Having multiple platforms allows us to select what is optimal for both the clinical question and the patient, rather than forcing the patient to fit the machine,” Reyes said.
The technology is supported by radiologists with subspecialty training in neuroradiology, head and neck imaging, musculoskeletal, abdominal, pediatric, and cardiovascular imaging, ensuring more precise and clinically relevant interpretations.
The expanded capability also enables whole-body MRI, a non-invasive and radiation-free scan that evaluates multiple organ systems in a single session, typically completed within 45 to 60 minutes. When appropriate, it can be used for preventive screening or comprehensive diagnostic assessment.
