The scan itself takes about 25 minutes. The report takes a little longer, and there’s a good reason for it. This post explains how MRI results actually work — who reads your scan, when the report reaches your doctor, and how you can get a copy.
Who Reads Your Scan
Every scan we run is read by a board-certified radiologist — a physician whose specialty is interpreting medical images. Reading an MRI isn’t a glance-and-go process. The radiologist works through each sequence, compares the anatomy slice by slice, and writes a structured report of the findings for your provider. That’s the part that takes time, and it’s the part that makes the report worth having.
When the Report Is Ready
Our turnaround is 24–48 hours. A board-certified radiologist reads the scan, and the report goes to the provider who ordered it within two business days. If your provider’s office is quick to pass it along, you can hear back quickly; if the scan was on a Friday, count on early the following week.
A practical note on weekends: scans run Monday through Saturday, but the report clock runs on business days. A Saturday scan is often read on Monday, which is still inside the 48-hour window — it just doesn’t happen over the weekend itself.
We’re honest about what we can and can’t control here. The radiologist read is the bottleneck we manage, and we manage it to 24–48 hours consistently. After that, delivery to you depends on your provider’s office, which is outside our hands.
Why It Isn’t Faster
If the scan itself takes 25 minutes, why doesn’t the report come back in 25 minutes? The honest answer is quality control. The radiologist reads each sequence against your clinical history, compares the study to prior imaging when it’s available, and writes findings a physician can act on. That takes time, and rushing it saves nobody. There’s also logistics: the scan finishes, the images go to the reading service, the radiologist works them into their day, and the report is transmitted back to us and then to your provider. Most reports are done well inside the 48-hour mark, and same-week reads are the norm.
How You Get a Copy
You have two ways to get your results yourself. Ask us and we’ll email you a password-protected copy of the report when it’s ready. And you’ll receive a CD of your images — if you’re getting follow-up care or a second opinion, bring that CD to your appointments.
Your ordering provider gets the full report regardless. That’s the record that goes into your chart and drives the treatment conversation.
What the Report Covers
The report describes what the radiologist found — or didn’t find. An unremarkable report is a real result: it rules out problems and points your care in a different direction. When there are findings, the report describes them plainly so your provider can use them to plan next steps. A report is not a treatment plan; your provider walks you through what the findings mean for you.
For Referring Providers
If you’re a physician or clinic referring patients to us, the mechanics are simple: send the order, we scan, and the report goes back to your office within 24–48 hours. We also provide a CD and can send the report electronically. The referring physicians page covers the full workflow, or call us directly.
The whole process — from a lumbar spine MRI to any other non-contrast study — runs the same way, at the same flat $399 price. If you have questions about timing or a copy of your results, call (314) 834-7226.