“Can I really get a same-day MRI?” It’s the question we hear constantly, and the answer is usually yes. At Sunset Hills Imaging, same-day appointments are often available when you call. This post explains how it works, start to finish, so you know exactly what the day looks like.
The One Thing You Need First
Before anything else, you need a doctor’s order. An MRI is a medical procedure, and we can’t run the scan without it. If you don’t have one yet, see our guide on how to get an MRI order — urgent care or telehealth can often write one the same day.
How to Request Same-Day
The fastest way to grab a same-day slot is to call us at (314) 834-7226. The closest openings are easiest to find by phone because we can check the schedule with you in real time and adjust for what works. You can also request an appointment online, but if same-day matters, the phone is the reliable route.
When you call, tell us the body part on your order. That lets us match the right study and confirm the details before you come in.
What to Bring
Bring your doctor’s order — either the printed copy or confirmation that it’s been faxed to (314) 804-7226 or emailed to Sunset@moimaging.com. Wear loose, comfortable clothes with no metal: no zippers, snaps, or underwire. We provide a gown if you need one. Leave jewelry and metal at home, and tell us about any implants or metal in your body before we schedule.
If you’re claustrophobic or have tremors, say so when you book. For many studies you go in feet first with your head outside the machine, and we’ll talk through your options ahead of time.
What the Visit Looks Like
Plan for up to an hour total in the department, including check-in and positioning. Most scans take 25–30 minutes of scan time. There’s no IV and no contrast dye — our studies are non-contrast only — so there’s no prep and no fasting, and you’re free to leave as soon as the scan is done.
The price is the same whether it’s same-day or scheduled weeks out: a flat $399, which covers the scan, the board-certified radiologist’s read, and a CD of your images. The pricing page shows the full breakdown. There’s no facility fee, no separate radiologist bill, and no insurance billing — you pay once, and that’s the total.
What Happens After
A board-certified radiologist reads your scan, and the report goes to your ordering provider within 24–48 hours. Ask us and we’ll email you a password-protected copy.
A Typical Same-Day Timeline
If you call in the morning, here’s roughly how the day can go. Morning: you call, we check the schedule, and you’re booked for an afternoon slot. You fax or email your order, or bring it with you. Afternoon: you arrive, check in, change if needed, and scan for 25 to 30 minutes. Evening: you’re home, with a CD of your images, and the report goes to your provider within 24–48 hours. Not every day lines up that neatly — same-day availability depends on the schedule and on your order being in hand — but that’s the honest shape of it when it works.
The one thing that can stall a same-day appointment is the order. If you don’t have one, get it first — urgent care or telehealth can often write one the same day — then call us. The order is the only real gatekeeper.
That’s the whole process. Call (314) 834-7226 in the morning, and there’s a real chance you’re scanned by the afternoon.