Preparing for Your MRI

On Your MRI Examination Day

  • Bring your doctor’s order and your insurance cards with you to your appointment.
  • Follow your daily routine. You may eat, drink fluids, and take your medications as usual.
  • Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to complete paperwork.
  • You will have to change from your clothes to the clothes we provide.
  • You will be asked to remove all metal objects from your body, such as watches, jewelry, keys, wallets, purses, cell phones, and pagers. Lockers are available to secure your belongings.
  • You may be asked to remove dentures and/or bridgework. Personal denture cups are provided.
  • For your safety, you will be asked questions concerning your medical history. The same questions will be asked more than once. Some of these questions include past surgeries to the heart, brain, and ears as well as injuries to your eyes.
  • Please inform the office staff or technologist if you think you may be pregnant.
  • If you think you are claustrophobic, talk to your doctor about possibly taking a mild sedative before your MRI exam. We do not dispense medication. If you plan on taking a sedative, please bring someone else to drive you home.
  • During your exam, you will be wearing earplugs or headphones, as the MRI machine makes noise similar to a jackhammer. Feel free to bring a CD of your favorite music.
  • Ask questions. If you are unsure about anything, our staff will be more than happy to discuss it with you.
  • A radiologist, a physician specializing in interpretation, will read your images and report the results to your doctor.