About - San Luis Diagnostic Center

About Us

San Luis Diagnostic CentER

San Luis Diagnostic Center is a true diagnostic facility—it goes beyond imaging. From our courteous, proficient office staff and highly-skilled, caring technologists, to our state-of-the-art equipment and prompt reports, at San Luis Diagnostic Center we do everything we can to make a timely, accurate diagnosis.

When we designed our center, the patient came first. Our waiting room is open and airy, and family members can choose to wait there or outside on our balcony. Our center is split into three regions, each with its own dressing and waiting areas. This helps maintain patient privacy, and patients wait with others having similar exams. Exam rooms are
bright; many have skylights, including the CT and MRI rooms. This open, relaxed environment helps ease any patient apprehension and claustrophobia.

INSURANCE

San Luis Diagnostic Center contracts with most major insurance companies and bills patients’ insurance companies for them. Prior to an examination, we contact all patients for details regarding their insurance coverage. We ask patients to sign an assignment of benefits form so that payment comes directly to our center. Any amounts not covered by insurances, such as deductibles or co-insurance amounts, we collect at the time of service. For our patients’ convenience, we accept personal checks and credit cards. We also implemented an online patient portal to help patients pay online, update their insurance information, and request a payment plan.

The Latest Technology

OUR EquipmeNT

San Luis Diagnostic Center is a full-service diagnostic facility. We have the most advanced equipment available.

We are the only facility in the county to offer a Siemens Ultra High-Field 3T Open MRI. We were the first imaging facility in the county to offer cardiac CT, permanent 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 referring physician to review.

Our Medical Director

FRED S. VERNACCHIA

M.D.

Dr. Vernacchia attended medical school and completed his radiology residency at University of California,
San Francisco. He began practicing radiology in San Luis Obispo in 1986.

Dr. Vernacchia founded San Luis Diagnostic Center in 1994 because he was committed to providing state-of-the art diagnostic equipment and techniques. In fact, San Luis
Diagnostic Center was the first facility in the county to offer Stereotactic Breast Biopsy, Digital Mammography, 3D Bone Mineral Analysis, MR Angiography, CT Angiography, Multi-detector CT, 3T MRI, 4D ultrasound for pre-natal diagnosis, Virtual colonoscopy, and to have a permanent PET/CT scanner for cancer detection. Dr. Vernacchia has authored numerous medical articles, lectured to other radiologists internationally and has served as a director on many non-profit boards.

In his free time, he likes to travel and referee youth soccer.