Optimizing MRI Workflows: Eleven Takeaways from a New Literature Review
Noting the rising imaging volume and dearth of MRI scanner availability, the authors of a new literature review explore the utility and impact of workflow redesign, staff training, scheduling improvements and AI advances for enhancing MRI workflows.
Recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that there are approximately 40 MRI units per one million people in the United States.
In light of these estimates and a continually rising demand for MRI exams, researchers published a literature review in
Here are eleven pertinent takeaways from the review.
- A 2021 publication pegged mean MRI scan time at 40 minutes, patient handling time at 70 minutes and patient turnover time at 13 minutes.
2. In a 2025 study on outpatient abdominal MRI workflow, patient preparation delays accounted for 20 percent of the MRI visit, repeat scans due to patient motion took up 17 percent of the MRI appointment and 15 percent of the time was attributed to addressing patient no-shows and scheduling drift. The MRI scan acquisition comprised 38 percent of the office visit, according to the researchers.
3. The review authors noted that incorporating dedicated patient preparation bays with dockable MRI tables facilitates preparation for new patients while another patient is being scanned. This workflow approach reportedly cut per-scan time by three to six minutes and reduced patient turnaround times by 3.5 minutes.
4. Another study found that training targeted at improving the interactions between MRI staff and patients improved patient throughput by 30 percent and facilitated a monthly savings of $4,600 in scanner-related costs.
5. Can personalized text reminders have an impact for MRI appointments? One study revealed a 1.3 percent reduction in the no-show rate for MRI visits.
Recognizing The Efficiencies with Advances in Image Reconstruction
6. In addition to demonstrating enhanced image quality and improved detection of acute ischemic lesions, prospective research has shown that deep learning reconstruction can facilitate up to a 10-minute reduction in MRI scan time.
7. Incorporating deep learning reconstruction software has also reportedly led to an approximately 50 percent reduction in scan times for knee MRIs and between a 30 to 50 percent decrease in scan time for prostate MRIs.
8. Researchers have also noted significant reductions in MRI scan times through the use of compressed sensing, which enables high-quality image reconstruction from under-sampled k-space data.
9. Phase-encoding steps with MRI scans can be reduced with the use of sensitivity encoding (SENSE), which incorporates spatial sensitivity information from multi-channel receiver coils, according to the review authors.
Other Pertinent Considerations with MRI Workflow
10. Based on improvements reported from studies conducted in high-volume facilities, the review authors hypothesized projected annual financial gains of up to $550,000 from the use of abbreviated MRI protocols and up to $700,000 with scan time reduction improvements.
11. Cautioning that the reviewed studies were largely single-center studies or simulation-based analyses, the review authors maintained that larger, multicenter studies are necessary to explore the impact of these workflow interventions across a diversity of practice settings.
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