Hospital vs. Outpatient Imaging Center: Which One's Right For You?

You complained of knee pain, saw your doctor who wrote a script for an x-ray, and now you are charged with the decision of where to go in order to get your medical imaging procedure performed. If you are lucky, the physician’s nurse will recommend a place or may even set up your appointment for you, but most of us are stuck with the very real task of figuring out the best scenario to ensure good images as well as quick results back to your physician.

Medical imaging is the umbrella term used to describe procedures that visualize the human body including x-rays, MRI’s, and CT exams. Performed by radiologic technologists, they can be done in both self-standing imaging outpatient centers as well as larger hospitals that have imaging departments.

Some key factors to consider when choosing the medical imaging center that works best for you revolve around the three a’s: accessibility, affordability, and accreditation.

Accessibility: how easy is it for you to get to your imaging procedure and for your physician to get the report? Accessibility and convenience are everything these days! Being able to have your imaging procedure in a location that is near to your home, has parking that is easy and close to the building, and can offer appointment times that work around your life schedule are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing your imaging center. Many times outpatient imaging centers may offer a wider scheduling variety than hospitals that are also treating inpatients at the same time. Keep in mind that you will want a center that can provide the images and/or report back to your physician in a timely manner. You will also want to consider how many other exams you need to schedule. If you need multiple tests done, a hospital may be more suited to handle your needs.

Affordability: every imaging center charges patients differently. Imaging procedures can get pretty expensive! When you call for an appointment, feel free to ask what the cost of the exam will be. Many times, hospitals have a different payment scale for procedures than outpatient facilities or your particular insurance carrier may only cover the imaging service if it is done in the hospital versus an outpatient center. Knowing ahead of time what your out-of-pocket expense will be can eliminate surprises and reduce your stress levels. In this new age of consumer driven patient care, if they cannot tell you the price, you may want to look elsewhere.

Accreditation: all ACR accredited imaging centers offer the highest quality of care. Regardless of whether you choose an outpatient imaging center or a hospital based imaging department, the highest level of quality comes from places that are ACR accredited. You can find the gold seal that identifies this accreditation easily on imaging department websites or within their centers. You can also ask if they have accreditation when making the appointment. Such standards ensure that you will have highly qualified staff taking your images on the highest performing equipment. A win/win situation!

Written By: Julie Kaufield, MA, RT(R)                  

10 Things To Look For In An Imaging Center

When your doctor decides it’s time to get a clearer picture of what’s causing your stomach pain, or you’ve hit 40 and need to schedule your first mammogram, you will be referred for diagnostic imaging. Just like when you’re looking for a dentist or a primary care provider, you want to do your research and find the best clinic for you. There are a few different things that make a great imaging center—here’s what to look for.

1.     Medical team and expertise

Before you schedule your appointment or go to your exam, take a look at the medical imaging clinic’s website and get to know the business. Most likely, you don’t interact with the radiologist (your exam is performed by trained radiologic technologists, and the radiologists analyze your exam on screen in a separate dark room), but you still want to be comfortable knowing the doctor reviewing your exam is qualified and experienced. Most websites offer bios of their doctors and their medical team, look for specialty training and certifications.

2.     The most appropriate exam

Remember, this is diagnostic imaging. The pictures are to help doctors understand what is causing you pain or illness. The radiologist works with your primary care provider or the specialist who referred you for imaging to make sure you’re getting the right exam, saving you time, money and potentially unnecessary radiation exposure.

3.     State-of-the-art technology

Much like the most advanced smart phone or TV, technology in medicine is always changing especially in imaging technology. Mammograms can now be viewed by the radiologist in 3-D, meaning the breast tissue is more dimensional, in slices, allowing for a more accurate read. This eliminates false positives and also reduces anxiety for the patient. MRIs are also seeing improvements, with more power for cleaner reads and a wide-bore, or open MRI to enhance patient comfort.

4.     Somewhere that won’t break the bank

Shop around for clinics that offer the most affordable exams and always make sure that your exam and the clinic is covered by your insurance provider.

5.     Scheduling ease and availability

Nothing is worse than waiting to find the right answers. If you call to schedule your appointment but can’t get in for two weeks, you should look for another clinic. Most top imaging centers try to get their patients in for diagnostic imaging within 2 – 5 business days.

6.     Customer service and friendly staff

Outpatient imaging centers have a very large staff who you interact with: schedulers, receptionists, radiologic technologists and sometimes the radiologists. The clinic knows that every interaction each employee has with the patient is important. If you don’t feel like you’re treated with respect and compassion, move on.

7.     Positive reviews and recommendations

Word of mouth is still the most basic and effective form of marketing, especially in the world of health care. But in today’s modern world, every business has some sort of online review available. Check their Facebook page, Yelp or Google reviews. Most importantly, ask your primary care provider or the physician referring you for images which clinic they prefer.

8.     Easy access is key

Outpatient clinics by design provider greater ease than getting images in a hospital setting. Look for something close to home or near where you run errands. Your exam doesn’t take all day, if you can, look for appropriate care close to home.

9.     Comprehensive women’s imaging

Mammograms are the only diagnostic imaging exam that patients can self-refer. Once you hit 40, you know to schedule your exam every year. Most clinics should have comprehensive women’s imaging in case your doctor needs a better look or needs to do a breast biopsy in the clinic. Just like the dentist or your primary care provider, you want to establish yourself with the clinic for your annual mammogram.

10.  Safe and professional atmosphere

This goes without saying really, but you should always make sure the facility is clean and comfortable and prioritizes patient safety and privacy. Getting images is stressful enough, so make sure you feel as comfortable as possible in the waiting room and during your exam.

Written by: Marysa Stevens