MRI Center in Chattanooga
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June 15, 2026
An MRI center in Chattanooga gives patients a place to have magnetic resonance imaging performed in an outpatient setting, separate from a hospital, with scans interpreted by physician radiologists. Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves, not ionizing radiation, to produce detailed images of soft tissue, joints, the brain, and the spine. Chattanooga is Tennessee’s fourth largest city, with a population of roughly 185,783 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and it serves as the medical hub for a tri-state region reaching into North Georgia. That referral base, drawing orthopedic, neurological, and oncology cases from across the area, keeps demand for outpatient imaging steady, and it gives patients a meaningful choice of dedicated centers.
The images an MRI center produces are only as useful as the physician who reads them. In Tennessee, the radiologists who interpret scans are physicians, holding either an M.D. or a D.O. degree, and the field’s recognized credential is board certification through the American Board of Radiology. These physicians are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners under the Tennessee Department of Health, which maintains a public license-verification system patients can use to confirm a doctor’s standing. Many quality-focused outpatient centers also pursue accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR), a voluntary review of equipment, staff qualifications, safety protocols, and image quality that signals a facility meets nationally recognized standards.
Tennessee regulates diagnostic imaging facilities through several channels. Outpatient diagnostic centers operate under Department of Health oversight, and the radiologic technologists who position patients and run the scanners work within state practice standards. Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax plus a local option tax, though medical services themselves are generally not taxed the way retail goods are; patients paying out of pocket should still request an itemized estimate. Consumer protection for billing disputes and deceptive practices falls under the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Because Chattanooga’s metro reaches into Georgia, patients should also confirm that a center’s radiologists are licensed in the state where the facility sits, verifying through that state’s medical licensing authority, which is the Tennessee Department of Health for facilities located in Tennessee.
MRI scanners differ in ways that matter to patients. Field strength, measured in tesla, is commonly 1.5T or 3T, with higher field strength generally producing finer detail for certain neurological and musculoskeletal studies, while bore design ranges from conventional closed systems to wide-bore and open configurations that accommodate larger patients or those who experience claustrophobia. Outpatient centers frequently price self-pay MRI studies below hospital rates, which is significant for patients with high-deductible plans or no insurance, so it is worth requesting a cash price and confirming whether a physician referral is required. The following profiles cover established outpatient imaging providers serving Chattanooga. This information is educational and is not medical advice; patients should consult their physician about which imaging study and facility are appropriate for their situation.
Top MRI Center Providers in Chattanooga
1. PrimeImaging Chattanooga Outpatient Center
Address: 1301 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 893-7226
Website: https://www.primeimaging.com/chattanooga-outpatient
Services: MRI (3T and 1.5T high-field, open MRI), CT and CT angiography, ultrasound, 3D mammography, DEXA bone density, X-ray and fluoroscopy, PET/CT, nuclear medicine, interventional procedures
Description: PrimeImaging is the outpatient imaging brand of Diagnostic Radiology Consultants, a radiology group whose roots in the region span more than sixty years and which adopted the Diagnostic Radiology Consultants name in 1992 before consolidating its facilities under the PrimeImaging brand. The group reports a staff of 10 board-certified radiologists and operates four comprehensive outpatient facilities across the Chattanooga and North Georgia area, including this fully digital Chattanooga Outpatient Center on McCallie Avenue with a specialized women’s breast center. PrimeImaging provides high-field, open MRI, with a 3T open MRI the group notes can accommodate patients who have pain, mobility, or respiratory needs, and the practice highlights early adoption of 3T technology for prostate imaging. The McCallie center’s broader menu spans CT, ultrasound, 3D tomosynthesis mammography, DEXA, X-ray, PET/CT, and a range of image-guided interventional procedures.
2. Chattanooga Imaging
Address: 513 Dodds Avenue, Suite 100, Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 553-1234
Website: https://chattanoogaimaging.com
Services: MRI, ultrasound, 3D mammography, lung cancer screening
Description: Chattanooga Imaging is an outpatient diagnostic network that operates seven locations across the greater Chattanooga area and into North Georgia, including sites downtown, on Dodds Avenue, on Gunbarrel Road, in Hixson, and in Ooltewah, along with locations in Cleveland, Tennessee, and Dalton, Georgia. The Dodds Avenue location is among the network’s newest sites. The practice states that it is independently accredited by the American College of Radiology, meeting nationally recognized standards for staff qualifications, equipment safety, and image quality. Its services include MRI, ultrasound, mammography with 3D imaging at several locations, and lung cancer screening, giving patients multiple neighborhood access points for outpatient studies rather than a single central campus.
3. Erlanger Medical Mall Outpatient Imaging Center
Address: 975 East Third Street, 1st Floor, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: (423) 778-5800
Website: https://www.erlanger.org/locations/imaging-locations
Services: MRI (including 3T), CT, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography
Description: The Medical Mall Outpatient Imaging Center is the dedicated outpatient imaging site at Erlanger’s Baroness campus in downtown Chattanooga, operated by the Erlanger health system. Located on the first floor of the Medical Mall building, it provides outpatient scheduling for a range of studies and is reachable through Erlanger’s central imaging scheduling line. The center’s MRI capability includes a 3T system, which the system notes provides the detailed views used in diagnosis and treatment planning, alongside CT, X-ray, ultrasound, and mammography. As part of a teaching health system, this location connects outpatient imaging to the broader specialty and subspecialty resources of the Erlanger network, while still functioning as an outpatient access point separate from inpatient hospital admission.
Frequently Asked Questions About MRI Center in Chattanooga
Q: Who reads the MRI scans at a Chattanooga imaging center?
MRI scans are interpreted by radiologists, who are physicians holding an M.D. or D.O. degree. The recognized credential in the field is board certification through the American Board of Radiology, and Tennessee radiologists are licensed to practice by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners under the Tennessee Department of Health. Patients can verify a physician’s license and standing through the Department of Health’s public verification system before their appointment.
Q: What does American College of Radiology accreditation mean?
American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation is a voluntary review in which the ACR evaluates a facility’s equipment, staff qualifications, safety protocols, and image quality against nationally recognized standards. A center can be accredited in specific modalities, such as MRI, CT, mammography, or ultrasound. Accreditation is one objective signal of quality, and patients can confirm a facility’s status through the ACR’s public directory.
Q: What is the difference between 1.5T and 3T MRI?
The T refers to tesla, a measure of the scanner’s magnetic field strength. A 3T machine has roughly twice the field strength of a 1.5T machine and can produce finer detail for certain neurological and musculoskeletal studies, while 1.5T remains a clinical standard suitable for a wide range of exams. The right field strength depends on the body part and the clinical question, which is a decision for the ordering physician and radiologist.
Q: Is an outpatient MRI in Chattanooga cheaper than a hospital MRI?
Outpatient imaging centers frequently price self-pay MRI studies below hospital rates, which can matter for patients with high-deductible plans or no insurance. Costs vary by facility, body part, and whether contrast is used, so patients should request a specific self-pay or cash price and an itemized estimate in advance, and confirm whether a physician referral is required.
Q: Do I need a referral to schedule an MRI?
Most MRI studies require an order from a referring physician, since the radiologist needs the clinical question to perform and interpret the correct exam. Some centers can help coordinate a referral, but patients should confirm the facility’s policy when scheduling. This article is informational and not medical advice; decisions about whether and what to scan rest with the patient’s physician.
Q: How do I file a complaint about billing or service at an imaging center?
Billing disputes and concerns about deceptive practices can be directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Complaints involving a radiologist’s professional conduct or licensure can be reported to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners under the Department of Health. Keeping itemized bills, the referral, and any written estimates strengthens a complaint.