MRI
At TCO, we strive to help patients reduce costs, wait times, and delays in treatment by offering easy, affordable access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services.
Anyone with a referral for an MRI may choose TCO as their MRI provider!
Home to the Region's Largest Open MRI Machine
Our Siemens Free.Max MRI scanner is the largest in the region, maximizing comfort for patients who have difficulty with claustrophobia. By allowing more room in the scanner and a spacious field of view, our MRI scanner makes detailed diagnostic imaging accessible to more people than ever before.
Why Choose TCO?
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Fraction of the price of hospital MRI scans
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Prompt scheduling
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High-definition digital images
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State-of-the-art equipment
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Largest MRI in the region, ideal for claustrophobia
Preparing for an MRI What You Need to Know
We will do everything we can to make you as comfortable as possible during your exam. Our goal is to acquire high quality images the first time and get your doctors the answers they need to direct your care.
- Our technologists will walk you through the steps of the exam.
- MRI machines are loud so we will provide headphones to help block the noise. You can listen to music on the headphones as well. We have a wide variety of stations to pick from.
- You will be given a squeeze bulb in case you need to contact the technologist during your exam.
- The scanning room is kept cool for the MRI machine, we have blankets in case you feel cold.
The scanner is a strong magnetic field that attracts metal. For this reason, metal is not allowed in the MRI room. Some fabrics contain small amounts of metal, which can cause burns. For this reason, we have all our patients change into our designated scrubs for MRI exams. You will be given a room to change in, store your clothes, and anything else you may have with you. You will be asked to remove any metal objects – even small ones – including hair clips, jewelry, or watches.
The technologist will review the MRI safety form with you. This is to make sure you don’t have any metal or implants in your body or attached to you that would cause a problem during the exam.
These could include:
- Hearing aids
- Body piercings
- Metal fragments (such as metal filings, bullets, BBS, or shrapnel)
- Medicine patches
- Continuous glucose monitors
- Implanted devices (such as pacemakers, neurostimulators, inner ear implants, medicine pumps, cardiac defibrillators)
- Metal implants (such as valves, clips, stents, joints, pins/screws, artificial limbs)
After being cleared to enter the exam room the MRI technologist will escort the patient into the exam room.
Before, During & After Your MRI What to Expect
- We will give you a call to set up your MRI appointment and a follow up appointment with the ordering physician to review your results at a date after the MRI.
- Be sure to tell us if there is a chance you are pregnant.
- On the day of the exam please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
- When you arrive, you will be led to a changing room where a final safety screening form will be reviewed with you. You will be given scrubs to change into as well. Your changing room will store your personal belongings during the MRI and will be locked while you are having your scan.
- The technologist will then position you on the cushioned MRI table. You will lay down for the exam. Your body part being scanned will be positioned so that it will be in the middle of the scanner during the scans.
- Next a soft, flexible pad device called a “coil” will be positioned around the body part to be scanned. The coil acts as an antenna to help capture high quality images of your body.
- You will then be given your headphones and offered a blanket for your comfort.
- Once positioned comfortably, the technologist will go out of the room to run the scanner from a computer located next to the scan room. The technologist will be visible through the viewing window. The technologist will communicate with you via the headphones throughout the exam to see how you are doing.
- When the scan starts the table you are lying on will move into the scanner to start capturing images. It is important to lay as still as possible during the exam to help get the clearest images possible. You will hear “knocking” and “banging” sounds for a few minutes at a time.
- When your scan is complete, you will be able to go back to your changing room to change back into your clothes.
- Once you have changed your appointment is complete and check out with reception at the front desk.
- After the exam, your images will be sent electronically to a radiologist who will review the images and send a report back to Tri-City Orthopaedics within two to three business days.
- You will follow up with referring provider to review the results.
IAC Accreditation
TCO is proud to have received a three-year accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in MRI. This prestigious accreditation underscores our commitment to providing top-tier patient care and maintaining the highest standards in MRI imaging.
