No-Shows Increase If MRI Wait Time Longer than 7 Days
Longer wait times increase no-show rates for MRIs.
Longer wait times for advanced imaging appointments increase the chance of missed appointments, according to a study published in The Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, performed a retrospective study to investigate the impact of wait days (WDs) on missed outpatient MRI appointments across different demographic and socioeconomic factors.
The researchers obtained scheduling and demographic data on 42,727 adult patients. Imaging missed appointments were defined as missed scheduled imaging encounters and WDs were defined as the number of days from study order to appointment.
The results showed that mean WDs were 7.95 days. There was an increased odds ratio for missed appointments for patients with WDs of between 7 and 21 days. Increased WDs were also found among patients who were African American or Hispanic, as well as for patients with noncommercial insurance, and whose imaging was to be performed at the main hospital campus.
The researchers concluded that longer wait times significantly increased the likelihood of missed appointments, particularly among underrepresented minorities and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Newsletter
Stay at the forefront of radiology with the Diagnostic Imaging newsletter, delivering the latest news, clinical insights, and imaging advancements for today’s radiologists.
The Reading Room Podcast: A Closer Look at Remote MRI Safety, Part 2
July 25th 2025In the second of a multi-part podcast episode, Emanuel Kanal, M.D. and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, share their perspectives on remote MRI safety protocols for ensuring screening accuracy and adherence to conditional implant guidelines as well as a rapid and effective response to adverse events.
The Reading Room Podcast: Current and Emerging Insights on Abbreviated Breast MRI, Part 2
July 23rd 2025In the second part of a multi-part podcast episode, Stamatia Destounis, MD, Emily Conant, MD and Habib Rahbar, MD, discuss key sequences for abbreviated breast MRI and how it stacks up to other breast cancer screening modalities.
Stroke MRI Study Assesses Impact of Motion Artifacts Upon AI and Radiologist Lesion Detection
July 16th 2025Noting a 7.4 percent incidence of motion artifacts on brain MRI scans for suspected stroke patients, the authors of a new study found that motion artifacts can reduce radiologist and AI accuracy for detecting hemorrhagic lesions.
