MRI Scans Aren’t Only Performed At Hospitals

In many locations across the country there are outpatient MRI providers, or imaging centers, at local strip malls.

Outpatient clinics, like Radnet or SmartChoice, are already getting their foot in door of these new locations. The trend for the strip mall MRI stems from one crucial factor – cost.

Regardless of how much you may like your healthcare provider, most of us would not hesitate to get a $200 MRI scan at an outpatient center versus $1000 MRI scan at a hospital.

There are some pros and cons to hospital MRI scans versus private MRI scans.

Typically a hospital has a larger variety of scan features. They may offer newer, upgraded MRI equipment because they have a lot more funding and resources. However they also charge a lot more than a private MRI provider does, anywhere from $700 to $5,000. Hospitals are notorious for overcharging.

On the other hand some people hate going to the hospital. For them the intimate setting at a private office might be better. With private providers you have to do more research and make sure you choose a legitimate service. Theoretically you could get an MRI scan whenever you wanted at a private imaging center, like a super expensive copying machine, if you don’t mind the attached pricetag.

Imaging centers at both hospitals and private offices should both accept commercial insurance.

It is difficult to say what type of MRI would be less likely to make a mistake. Employees at the hospital are stressed out and have a lot more patients to handle. But a private radiologist has less procedures to follow and may be less experienced. Not to say that all private technologists are incompetent, but there have been malpractice cases.

Imaging centers charge a lot for MRI scans because the MRI equipment can cost millions of dollars. Save money on MRI parts, coils and servicing from Sound Imaging’s online store.