Choosing an MRI service provider

When it comes to your health, you have many choices. Kim Suggett, director of operations at Puget Sound for the Center for Imaging Diagnosis (CDI), explains how knowledge is power.

"I think patients don't realize that they have an absolute choice and that their experience will vary depending on where they go.

Choosing wisely means being informed about your options. Therefore, if your doctor tells you that you need some pictures, find the best provider by starting with these three questions:

 For more help picking the right MRI center

1. How is your imaging center better than others?


The first sign of quality in imaging is the experience and knowledge of the staff. Look for a provider that requires team members to be certified and maintain their CEUs (continuing education units). At CDI you get both.

Having a high level of continuing education helps suppliers stay at the forefront of imaging.

When someone obtains certification from organizations such as ARRT and the American Board of Radiology, it means they meet national standards of education, ethics and competence. For patients: Experience = Quality.

Also find out if the provider is doing a double check automatically. At CDI we have a 3-6% revision policy, which means that a second radiologist is rechecking 3-6% of our cases.

Neuroradiologist Dr. Steven Pollei explains that after reading a study, the peer review process randomly selects some of his studies to be reviewed by another neuroradiologist to confirm his results.

This is a way to maintain quality control for doctors and patients.

Beyond the expertise of clinical teams, look for a range of scanning options. Finding the right scanner for your specific needs will make the examination as comfortable as possible. If you suffer from claustrophobia, are obese or have broad shoulders, look for a supplier that offers alternatives to conventional MRI.

CDI in Renton, WA is the only open MRI center in Washington State and in Kirkland, WA, CDI, we have a high field open MRI.

At all of our Puget Sound locations we offer an MRI guarantee, which means that if you are unable to complete an examination at one scanner, we will work to obtain the necessary images at another scanner. That's why having the widest range of MRIs in Washington State is important to our patients.

2. How will this make my choice easier?


There is definitely a convenience factor to consider when it comes to your health. You may have simple questions like "Where can I park? The ICD tries to eliminate all conjecture from the exam. Who really needs the anxiety of health questions?

There's convenient, free parking right outside of all our Puget Sound locations. Before you schedule, you can virtually stroll through our Renton, Kirkland and Federal Way locations with our video tours. We also offer early morning, late night and weekend appointments to suit your needs.

Focusing on efficiency, we prioritise meeting appointments on time, an advantage we have over hospitals. We are not exceeding our scheduled appointments for patients with more urgent needs. When you know what to expect from your provider, you eliminate the unknown and make your life a little easier.

3. How much is my MRI?


If you are choosing the best facility to help you make your life easier, you will probably pay a lot more, right?

Abi Roberts, insurance specialist at CDI Kirkland, WA, handles the numbers all day long. "Our costs are a fraction of those of hospitals. On average, ICD costs are 30-50% lower than hospital providers.

The savings are even greater with some tests. Take a look at the cost comparison of an average chest CT without contrast in the table below.



The insurance specialist Abi puts it this way: If your co-payment is 20%, would you prefer to pay 20% of a hospital bill of $2,000 (i.e. $400) or 20% of an ICD bill of $900 (i.e. $180)? "We'll give you a cheaper test," explains Abi.

"To compare prices for procedures in the Seattle area, here is a cost comparison calculator. It can be useful to do the math, know what you pay for and, most importantly, what you get.

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