Choosing a Provider

Price matters, but it is not the only thing that separates one MRI provider from another. Image quality depends on the scanner, the technologist and the radiologist who reads the images. Comfort depends on the bore size, the noise and whether the staff can manage anxiety. Convenience depends on how fast you can be scheduled and how quickly your doctor gets the report.

This section helps you build a shortlist and compare it fairly. You will learn the difference between hospital and freestanding centers, what accreditation does and does not guarantee, how open, closed and wide-bore scanners differ, and which questions to ask before you commit. There is also a printable-style checklist you can work through on the phone.

No guide here ranks named companies. Instead, each one shows you the criteria so you can judge the providers in your own area.