How many mris are too many

We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience. View the changes to our visitor policy » View information for Guest Services ».

New to MyHealth? Manage Your Care From Anywhere. Activate Account. Create a New Account. Forgot Username or Password? What to Expect. Before the examination During the examination After the examination. Share on Pinterest. Concern Focuses on Long-Term Effects. Limited Use of Tests Recommended. Read this next. MRI vs. MRA Medically reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, M. Hardened Arteries Linked to Alzheimer's Brain Plaques, Lesions A study of seniors finds further evidence that hardened arteries are tied to the development of dementia.

Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD. Paracentesis Abdominal Tap. Steve Birnbaum, "and avoid doing the CT scan. Then there is the potential harm to patient safety. Experts are concerned that tests like CT scans - which use radiation - might increase the risk of cancer.

The bills before Congress aim to reduce Medicare payment rates for scanning, increase funding for studies comparing different treatments to see what works best, and encourage conversion to electronic medical records.

So tests aren't mistakenly duplicated and doctors have a database of results to learn from. But some people aren't waiting for Washington's version of reform. Motivated by his daughter's experience, Dr. Birnbaum started a program flagging doctors if a patient seems to be receiving too many tests.

I'm very pleased with the results. The question you should ask is: "What should be done regarding my healthcare and diagnostic imaging tests? Keep a record of your imaging history. It may be useful in the future. You may move from facility to facility, and your imaging history copies of examinations and reports may not. Recent exams done at one facility do not necessarily need to be repeated if you are referred to another hospital.

Take copies of previous exams with you when you go to a different healthcare provider or facility. This can prevent the exam from being repeated unnecessarily.

An accurate record of your medical imaging history can help promote optimal care of many medical conditions. For example, patients with chronic diseases, like kidney stones or Crohn's disease, may require many CT exams. Keeping a history of the exams and discussing the management of your condition with your healthcare providers will help ensure that radiation is being used wisely. CT imaging is a powerful medical tool that has saved many lives, but it is not without risks.

However, when a patient needs the medical care, the benefits outweigh the risks. Ask if the facility is accredited by a professional healthcare organization.