Through a Child’s Eyes: How Nicklaus Children's Health System and Philips are Transforming Pediatric MRI Care

Mason’s parents had braced for a tense hospital experience – long waits, cold rooms and the anxiety of not knowing what to expect. Instead, they found something entirely different: a bright, welcoming mobile MRI unit parked at Nicklaus Children’s West Kendall Outpatient Center, just a few miles from home.

What could have been a stressful hospital visit instead felt almost magical, as care and comfort replaced fear with fascination. “It looked like something from space,” Mason said. “There were lights and sounds – and a screen inside the room!”

Born at just 26 weeks, Mason had already overcome more than most children will in a lifetime. “He was so tiny, but everything was OK – his heart, his lungs, everything,” Heidi said. “He just had to eat and grow. We were so thankful.”

Outside the mobile unit, a technologist showed Mason how to help his stuffed cat, Muffin, go through a “kitten scanner,” demonstrating that the real MRI was safe. “They told him it was like going on a space mission. That changed everything for him,” Tom said.

For children like Mason, the mobile MRI unit feels more like a place to explore than a room for medical tests – with soft lighting, color-changing walls and favorite shows playing overhead. The space transforms to match the theme a child chooses – underwater, outer space or even a favorite cartoon. On the ceiling screen, Mason picked Bluey and settled in for his scan.

“When they walk in and see the room, they calm down,” said Eileen Lavin, the MRI technologist who worked with Mason. “When they feel more in control and relaxed, it helps us get better pictures.”

Behind that gentle, child-friendly experience is advanced imaging technology. The Philips BlueSeal 1.5T helium-free MRI delivers high-quality scans without large volumes of liquid helium, making it sustainable and reliable in a mobile setting. With SmartSpeed AI acceleration, the system enables up to three times faster scanning and up to 80% sharper images – reducing the time children need to stay still and often eliminating the need for sedation. The result: less risk, faster recovery and a more relaxed experience for children and their families.

That peace of mind is reinforced by Philips’ Pediatric Coaching, which helps children understand and feel at ease with the process – turning what could be an anxious moment into one of calm and confidence.

For families across South Florida, the mobile MRI unit offers not just comfort but hospital-grade imaging closer to home, where care is more accessible and convenient. “Most parents are working parents, so having that ability to take your child into a location that’s close to you is important,” said Iris Berges, Vice President of Operations and Chief Ambulatory Officer at Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “We’re always looking for opportunities to serve our patients better and make care more convenient.”

The innovative MRI experience is part of a broader collaboration between Philips and Nicklaus Children’s Health System, focused on enhancing patient and staff experiences and improving outcomes. Jeff DiLullo says the partnership reflects a shared vision: “When innovation is guided by empathy, it changes everything. Together, we’re showing how technology and compassion can work hand in hand to make care feel more personal – and more human.”

Back in West Kendall, Mason’s scan results arrived within days – clear and conclusive. “If it had taken weeks instead of a couple of days, or if we’d gotten some medical language we couldn’t make sense of, we’d be sitting there worrying,” Tom said. “Instead, it was fast, it was clear. The staff and the technology worked together.”

“When they told us it wasn’t a tumor, it was like this wave of relief,” Heidi said. “Just knowing so quickly – it took away so much of that worry.”