{"id":5967,"date":"2021-06-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hallmarq.net\/?p=5967"},"modified":"2022-04-01T15:13:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T14:13:35","slug":"adding-veterinary-mri-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hallmarq.net\/us\/2021\/06\/07\/adding-veterinary-mri-services\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Factors to Consider Before Adding Veterinary MRI Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Offering veterinary MRI services for your small animal patients is a big step and can expand your practice to a larger market. Veterinary neurology is becoming more common<\/a>, and clients are beginning to expect these services from their veterinarians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s easy to roll out. Whether your concerns are practical, such as finding space for the system, or tactical, such as investing in staff training, thinking these factors through beforehand will help you to make the most of your investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you need to consider before adding veterinary MRI services to your practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Have the Case Numbers to Justify Offering Veterinary MRI Services?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on scan revenue alone, to break even on your MRI system you need to conduct around eight studies per month. Taking downstream and surgical revenue into account drops the number of scans needed per month down to somewhere between 5-8, but possibly as low as three in order to break even.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of the cases that you see on a regular basis that would warrant having an MRI study done? Traditionally, surgeons use CT because it’s inexpensive and fast, but MRI studies can often provide twice the information in half the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vet MRI is the best imaging tool for soft tissue cases (including brain and spinal cord), ear diseases, painful conditions you can\u2019t localize, behavior abnormalities indicating neurological problems, seizures and weakness. Calculate how many of these cases you see each month. A first-opinion practice seeing five or more cases per month is in a good position to justify an investment in a veterinary MRI system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Here\u2019s
Columbia River Veterinary Specialists \/ Hallmarq. \u00a9 2020 Randy Kepple Photographs; All Rights Reserved.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Type of Installation Option is Right for You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

High-field MRI systems can be challenging projects based on their space requirements. An average MRI suite requires 600 to 700 square feet of dedicated space and at least 10-ft ceilings to accommodate helium refills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a partner with flexible installation options will open greater possibilities for your practice. Each one has unique benefits and drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three installation options for your MRI system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n