Radiology Access
For a radiology practice, what is the standard time-to-next-available appointment?
Question: For a radiology practice, what is the standard time-to-next-available appointment?
Answer: Time to next available appointment is almost totally based on market. That is, in a rural area where access to an MRI is limited to a truck that comes every two weeks, appointment times can extend out two, four, or six weeks. For an urban market with more imaging centers than hospitals, a 24-hour turnaround - if not less - is quite likely. Of course, the timing also depends on the patient's medical condition. In addition, many radiology practices find that pre-authorization requirements by insurance companies have an impact on appointment availability - that is, some companies require a waiting period of five days from the authorization request to approval.
That said, most radiology groups deliver a two-week maximum on non-emergent outpatient services and immediate turnaround on inpatient and emergency services.
Lead through crisis with confidence: A health care leader’s playbook for resilience and reputation
May 6th 2025Proactive crisis readiness equips health care leaders to navigate today’s permacrisis era, protecting brand reputation, sustaining patient‑care continuity, and preserving stakeholder trust when disruptive events strike.
