The San Luis Diagnostic Center is an American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited facility in Mammography, High Field MRI and Open MRI. We are an outpatient medical imaging center dedicated to diagnostic imaging excellence.

To provide rapid and efficient service of exceptional quality. We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology while emphasizing the attention to detail and patient satisfaction in a caring environment.

Dr. Fred Vernacchia founded San Luis Diagnostic Center in 1994 with the commitment of providing state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and techniques to San Luis Obispo County. Since opening in 1994, San Luis Diagnostic Center has been a pioneer in offering leading edge diagnostic technology and services.

Among many of the "firsts" in SLO County that can be credited to San Luis Diagnostic Center:

• 1994: Stereotactic Breast Biopsy; Helical CT Imaging; Contrast Enhanced High-Field MR Angiography
• 1999: Short-Bore, High-Field MRI with Perfusion and Diffusion imaging to evaluate brain cancers and early stroke
• 2002: Digital X-Ray; Filmless radiology (PACS) with the exception of Mammography (Filmless in 2005); Internet access of films by ordering physicians
• 2003: 4-Dimensional Ultrasound; Mid-Field Open MRI
• 2004: 16 Detector CT Scanning; MR Guided Breast Biopsy
• 2005: Digital Mammography; PET/CT in a permanent installation
• 2006: ACR Accredited facility in PET/CT and CT
• 2008: ACR Recognition as a "Breast Imaging Center of Excellence"

San Luis Diagnostic Center is a full-service diagnostic facility. We have some of the most advanced equipment available. In fact, because of the unique nature of our facility, we have been chosen as a GE Show Site. This distinction means that GE brings potential customers from all over the world to see our facility and GE equipment at work.

We are the only facility in the county to have both a High-Speed/High-Field MRI and an Open MRI in the same location. We are also the first imaging facility in the county to offer cardiac CT, permanently installed PET/CT for cancer detection, digital mammography, and 4D ultrasound for stunning prenatal images. In addition, we have 3D Bone Mineral Analysis and X-ray. We also perform biopsies and drainages using our sophisticated equipment to provide guidance.

Whenever needed, we reconstruct data collected during CT and MRI scans into three-dimensional images. These images allow physicians to see exactly what is going on inside a patient's body and allow diagnoses to be made that would not be possible otherwise.

Our sophisticated digital imaging system means that images are available instantly over the Internet for a doctor to review.

Our service is one of our greatest assets. San Luis Diagnostic Center has a courteous, proficient office staff and highly skilled, caring technologists.

Patients are pre-registered by phone or fax before their appointments. On the day of their examination, all they need to do is check in with the receptionist so that they can be directed to the correct area in our facility for their examination. We pride ourselves with our on-time service record. 95% of our patients are seen within 5 minutes of their scheduled appointment time.

All of the radiologists at San Luis Diagnostic Center are Diplomates of the American Board of Radiology, with many having specialized training in Women's Imaging, Body CT, Ultrasound, Neuroradiology, Breast Imaging (Mammography, ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsy) and interventional radiology. Each physician has attended major universities and medical schools, and many of our radiologists have lectured at both domestic and international medical conferences to educate others in their field. Moreover, our radiologists continually serve as consultants to imaging companies to help these organizations develop better diagnostic and clinical technologies, practices, and equipment.

We invite you to learn more about our radiologists. Please click here for additional information.