Asking Your Doctor for Medical Imaging

To receive an order for medical imaging from your doctor, you may need to clearly express your desire for answers to the cause of your pain. These questions may help in communicating your interest in determining the root cause of your issue.

1.  “Could we get clear answers to what is causing my pain or symptoms with medical imaging?”
2. “I’ve tried rest, ice, and over the counter medicines, but the pain is still there. Would imaging, such as an MRI, helpful to rule out a structural issue?”
3. “I’ve been having sharp stabbing pain in my lower back and side. I’ve tried ibuprofen. It is effecting my ability to sleep comfortably or do my usual work. Could a CT scan help identify if there is a kidney stone or other issue?”

The more specific you can be about your symptoms, the impact to your daily life, and what treatments you’ve already tried to address the issue, the better.

Your healthcare provider doesn’t want you to be in pain. Different imaging exams can provide different details to determine the cause. 

1.  “What type of imaging scan would best give me answers to what is causing my pain – MRI, CT, Ultrasound or X-ray?”
2. “Are there any limitations to using this type of diagnostic exam?”

• After talking with your doctor and getting an order for a medical imaging scan to understand the cause of your pain, you’ll need to consider an imaging center to provide the scan. Your doctor may recommend a specific site or may leave the choice up to you, either way you have a choice where to receive your imaging scan. Questions to consider when selecting a location:

1.  “Is the location hospital based or outpatient imaging?”
   • Hospital-based imaging comes with a higher cost, while outpatient imaging centers, such as Touchstone Medical Imaging, are typically cost up to 60% less than a hospital.
   • Hospitals are also large medical facilities that may be more complex to navigate and outpatient services are prioritized after emergency or inpatient imaging.  
2. “Is the location in-network with your insurance?”
   • Like any healthcare provider, medical imaging may be in-network or out-of-network with a specific insurance health plan. Touchstone Medical Imaging is in-network with 99% of major health insurance plans, however we recommend checking in-network status with your insurance provider.
3. “Is there a convenient location in proximity to home or work with hours that fit my schedule?”
   • Touchstone Medical Imaging has over 60 centers offering same-day and next-day appointments with early morning, evening and weekend hours to fit your busy schedule and provide appointment options without delay.
4. “Does the location offer the latest technology for the imaging scan so you and your provider can obtain the answers you need?”
   • Not all imaging equipment is the same. For example, MRI and CT machines come in many different strengths and capacities. Touchstone Medical Imaging invests in state-of-the-art technology to provider superior image quality for better diagnostics. In addition, many of our locations feature faster scanning MRI technology reducing the scan time by 50% to provide a more comfortable patient experience while obtaining imaging clarity your provider needs to determine next steps in your care.

Stay in the know about what happens after your scan to help you stay in control of your care.

• 1. “How soon after my scan can we schedule a follow up to discuss the findings?”
  2. “Will you personally review my results with me?”
  3. “What happens if the scan finds something abnormal?”