Frequently Asked Questions

Your Open MRI results will not be immediately ready after your scan. We will send them to your doctor as soon as they are available, usually within 24 hours of your visit. Our technologists are prohibited from discussing the results of your MRI scan with you. Please contact your doctor, who will be able to explain them.

An MRI scan does not cause any physiological side effects. Unless you have taken a sedative (or other medication with restrictions), you should be able to drive immediately after your examination.

Depending on the area of your body being scanned, your examination could last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Our technicians can tell you how long your scan should take. Our technician may wrap a special belt around the area to be scanned and provide a special head rest. Your Open MRI scan will not start until our technician makes sure you are comfortably positioned. You will be able to communicate with our technician throughout the scan. You can even watch a movie while your MRI scan is taking place, using our medical visors and glasses.

During your Open MRI scan you will not feel anything. The scanner will emit some lite rumbling noises, but it is much quieter than a traditional Closed MRI scanner. While the scan is in process you will have to remain as still as possible. Any movement of the area being scanned may blur the images received by the MRI scanner. The stiller you are, the clearer your results will be.

Yes! Though we strive to make your MRI scan as comfortable as possible, the scan itself can still be stressful for some patients. We recommend that you bring a close friend or family member into the scanning room with you. They will be able to sit by your side during your Open MRI scan. Children should always be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Make sure they know not to bring (or wear) any metal into the MRI room. If they have a cardiac pacemaker, they should not enter the room.

Only non-metal objects are allowed inside the MRI room. All cell phones, pagers, jewelry, coins, keys, glasses, watches, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetic devices, and credit cards, etc. can be left outside the scanning room in a secure area.

For your appointment, bring your driver’s license, insurance information, and doctor’s prescription. Our staff will ask you about your medical history to verify that it is safe for you to receive an MRI scan.

Make sure to wear comfortable loose fitting clothing like sweatpants. For modesty reasons, dresses and skirts are not recommended. Remember that metal objects can ruin your MRI scan. You should avoid wearing any metal to your examination (i.e. jewelry, body piercings, hair pins, zippers, belt buckles, etc.). Remove any make-up from the area to be scanned and inform our technician if you have any tattoos (both may contain metallic particles). If you do not have any suitable clothing, we can always provide a gown.

There are no dietary restrictions for an Open MRI Scan. You may take your regular medications as usual prior to and after your scan, unless otherwise informed by your doctor.

Yes. All patients are required to provide proof of a doctor’s prescription prior to receiving any Open MRI scan.

For most people, MRI scans are an extremely safe procedure. Our technicians will ask you about your medical history prior to your screening. Those who are not candidates for an MRI include:

● Those with Cardiac Pacemakers: MRI scans can be fatal. Certain parts of the device may be affected by the extreme magnetic field of the MRI machine.
● Aneurysm Clips: Not all aneurysm clips in the brain are MRI safe. Check with your surgeon who installed them.
● Expectant Mothers: Should not be performed on pregnant mothers unless a strong medical indication exists.
● Other Probable Dangers: Heart Valves, any metal inside the body (Joint replacements, pins, or screws), hearing aids, or neurostimulators.

If any of these risks apply to you, make sure to tell your doctor. You should also inform our technicians before you begin your Open MRI examination. They will verify that it is safe for you to proceed with you Open MRI scan.

While a Closed MRI scanner envelopes patients in a small dark tunnel of magnets, Open MRI machines are much more patient friendly. They are open to the air on all sides, with magnets placed only above and below. Open MRI machines are much quieter. Certain larger patients or those who experience claustrophobia always prefer an Open MRI scan.

MRI scans are able to produce images of organs and bodily tissue in great detail without the need for harmful radiation. They are used to evaluate conditions like musculoskeletal disorders, traumatic injuries, blood flow, tumors, eye abnormalities, and heart malformations, just to name a few. X-rays and CAT scans are typically used to examine the skeletal system, since only denser parts of the body show clearly and bodily tissues do not appear in detail.

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. An MRI scanner is used to create detailed images of the body using radio waves and magnetic fields. MRI scans are completely safe and do not have any side effects.

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