Outpatient vs. Hospital-based Imaging: What’s the Difference?

Did you know there is a difference in where you have your medical imaging exam? Often patients don’t realize they have an option to go to an outpatient center instead of a hospital for their imaging or don’t understand there is a difference. At outpatient imaging centers such as RAYUS Radiology (RAYUS), you can save time and money and receive an extremely high-quality imaging exam with accurate results. Here are some things to consider when choosing where to have your imaging exam:

Convenience

RAYUS offers six convenient outpatient locations throughout Boston. Our centers are not part of a hospital system with complex navigation and large parking garages. We offer free, front door parking at all of our centers and transportation services are available, if needed.  Find the location nearest you.

Time savings

Oftentimes, appointments are not available for days or weeks at hospital-based facilities. Outpatient imaging centers are much faster, frequently offering same-day and next-day appointments. Once at your appointment, the outpatient experience is quick with minimal waiting and no bumps to your appointment time to accommodate urgent or ER cases. At RAYUS, we offer a range of convenient appointment times that include both evening and weekend hours. Don’t wait to be seen – schedule your appointment today!

Cost

When you find out you need medical imaging, you may wonder, “how much will that cost?” At RAYUS, our costs are 30-50% less than hospital-based imaging providers. We know cost is an important factor to you, which is why we offer free, personalized price estimates before your exam. Just call and let us know you are looking for a price estimate. We accept most major health insurance plans and will work directly with your insurance company to obtain pre-authorization prior to your appointment with us.

If you are comparing costs between providers, be sure to ask how many bills you will receive. Many facilities will send two to three separate bills for technical, professional and sometimes facility fees. At RAYUS, we make it simple. You will receive one global bill that includes all fees for your exam.

High-quality

At RAYUS, high-quality imaging is a promise we make to our patients. Our radiologists, the medical doctors who review your images and write a report, are subspecialized and fellowship-trained. This means they specialize in reading images of the particular area of the body you are having scanned. Our compassionate technologists lead you through your exam. Between our advanced technology, certified technologists and subspecialized radiologists, you can be sure you are receiving the best in medical imaging. In fact, 95% of our patients would recommend RAYUS to their family or friends.