NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Celebrates New Point-of-Care MRI with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Celebrates New Point-of-Care MRI with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

Advanced bedside imaging technology expands access to faster diagnostic examinations for brain-injured patients and supports timely patient care

Jul 06, 2026

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards recently held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the arrival of a new point of care MRI system, which will bring advanced brain imaging directly to patients' bedsides and allow clinicians to obtain critical diagnostic information without transporting patients to a traditional MRI suite. The acquisition of this new technology was made possible through a $500,000 allocation from Borough President Richard's Office. The hospital plans to utilize the new equipment in a number of key areas, including in intensive care, neurosurgery, and in other services where rapid imaging plays a vital role in clinical decision-making.

"Our priority has always been to deliver high-quality care that puts the patient first," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Alina Moran. "Introducing Point-of-Care MRI technology allows us to bring advanced diagnostic imaging directly to the patient's bedside, eliminating the stress and logistical challenges of transferring critically ill individuals throughout the hospital. This investment is about more than just new equipment; it's about lessening patient anxiety, accelerating answers for anxious families, and ensuring our community has access to the most compassionate, convenient care possible."

"At Elmhurst Hospital, we are committed to bringing the latest advances in medicine directly to the patients who need them most," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Medical Officer Laura Iavicoli, MD, MBA, FACEP. "This point-of-care MRI allows us to provide faster, safer, and more compassionate neurological care at the bedside, reinforcing our mission to deliver world-class, equitable care for every member of our diverse community."

"NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is the first hospital in the nation where neurosurgeons autonomously operate and fully leverage point-of-care neuroimaging using a portable head MRI reviewed independently by clinical neuroimagers," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Director of Neurocritical Care Services and Critical Care Neurophysiology Dr. Gregory Kapinos. "This ultra-low field brain MRI creates a rapid neuroimaging pathway that improves access, safety, and efficiency while streamlining critical care. Our new point of care MRI gives us access to state-of-the-art technology and is a game-changer for the timely evaluation and triage of fragile brain-injured patients."

"The healthcare heroes and sheroes of Elmhurst Hospital do incredible work every day to save and improve the lives of our neighbors," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. "They deserve the best possible equipment that will help them do just that, and this new Hyperfine MRI will make a massive difference for their patients in need of critical imaging. I'm proud to have put $500,000 toward the purchase of this state-of-the-art piece of technology, and I remain as committed as ever to supporting Elmhurst Hospital and the work it does to keep our families healthy and thriving."

Elmhurst Hospital's new portable point-of-care MRI system marks a significant advancement in diagnostic technology for the hospital. By allowing patients to remain in their hospital beds during 30-minute, noninvasive scans, the system eliminates the risks and delays associated with transporting vulnerable patients. The open design fosters a more comfortable, family-inclusive environment while streamlining clinical decision-making for neurosurgery and trauma teams, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and staff satisfaction. With an anticipated volume of hundreds of patients annually, this initiative will support timely, equitable care and directly aligns with the hospital's goal of pursuing elite clinical designations and the development of future neuroimaging fellowship training.

For more information of programs and services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, please call . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @elmhursthosp.

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Media Contact: Atiya Butler, Director of External Affairs at Elmhurst Hospital, 917-319-5167

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The 545-bed hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station, a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Receiving Center, a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center of Excellence, and a 911-Receiving Hospital. It is a premiere health care institution offering exceptional services across a wide range of specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women's health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and mental health care. In the past year alone, the hospital received nearly one million ambulatory care visits and over 140,000 emergency room visits, reflecting its essential role in the community. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been nationally ranked and recognized as a "Best Regional Hospital" by U.S. News & World Report in critical areas such as Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Hip Fracture, Maternity, Kidney Failure, Orthopedics, Pneumonia, and COPD.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth -all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.