I have had an MRI of my lower spine and pelvis and was just wondering if any of you know roughly how long it takes to get the results of an MRI?

If anybody replies to this thread, please could you also give me some advice on whether a PT or Specialist is obliged to show me my x-rays/MRI if I ask to see them?

It depends on the imaging center, where the films were done and how busy it is. Generally, it should take from 3 to 7 days for a (neuro)radiologist to read the films and write an interpretation. It might take up to 14 days for the referring doc to receive the report.

I don't know whether the PT or a specialist has an obligation to show you the films and go over them and the report with you, but it would sure seem odd to me if one did not.

What you do have a right to is: A copy of the written report. You might have to pay (per page) for it, though, which is not un-heard of.

In addition, if you want copies of the films, ask the imaging center.

I have copies of most of my films (head x-rays, CT scans, MRIs); bone scans are the only films that my doctors were not able to give me, though they did make sure that I have copies, wherein they noted the probs. I also have copies of all the reports based on imaging.

Not sure if a PT is obligated to show you an X-ray or MRI.

My PT never actually had more than the doc's prescription with some diagnosis and what to do for me. I always brought my x-ray/mri reports to the pt and gave them a copy. It really helped them work with me.


But those reports are technically yours. Bobbi is right you should be bale to get a written copy of the report. You might have to pay. And you should be able to get films or a CD with the images. You might have to pay for that too. I did not have to pay for the first set of anything I asked for.

Thanks for your advice, Bobbi and Shelley.

I will see if I can ask them about having a copy of my pelvis and lower back MRI with the reports. I will also ask them for a copy of my x-ray of my lower back and the report on that as it may be useful if I wanted to see different doctors for second opinions

Another question I have and this one worries me a bit is when I asked the PT if he had the x-ray that they had took of my back, he said they hadn't given it to him to look at. This seems strange for a hospital. How could he not have the x-ray of my back if this was what he was, in theory supposed to be looking at? He should have had access to it as a PT unless they were trying to hide something maybe? I'm not sure and am worried.

I dunno, but I'm not sure whether a PT would have access to the films unless the PT was either presented with them or asked for them.

Mine never did and, from what Shelley noted, hers didn't either unless she took them to the PT.

You could ask your PT about it .

I do not know if he asked for them. Probably not. I just wondered as I would have thought they did have access but their hospital system is probably not very organised with things like people's records. I have heard of things going wrong a lot at hospitals like people's records getting mixed up, wrong results, etc.

I just don't know (not familiar with) how PT works within a hospital setting. Mine's always been near a hospital but not within one or directly "tied" to one. Maybe that could make it different? in terms of whether films/files are shared?

What's happened when I've been to PT is my doc (whichever one ordered the films) receives the films and makes notes and instructions for the PT; some times, I'm asked to take some films and additional reports, and, at other times, I haven't been asked.

Would HIPAA possibly have bearing on whether the files/films are readily available to the PT or would some type of authorization be needed before those can be shared?

My GP wrote out a referral letter which the PT received. This said a bit about my symptoms.

My GP was the one who received the report from the x-ray diagnosis when I had the results announced but he, perhaps forgot to give them to the PT. I'm not sure.

I'm not sure what HIPAA stands for. But I understand what you mean. Perhaps they are not readily available but I have heard that there was supposed to be a new system where my x-rays and files are kept on computer so that they do not get lost anymore and can be accessed at any time. The person would probably have to have a password for security to access the records on the computer.