Memorial Ooltewah Imaging Center in Chattanooga: Outpatient MRI and CT Diagnostics in East Hamilton County
Memorial Ooltewah Imaging Center is an outpatient diagnostic imaging facility operating under Memorial Healthcare System, specializing in MRI and CT scans for patients across southeast Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Located in Ooltewah, it sits at the eastern edge of the metro area and handles both physician-ordered studies and walk-in urgent imaging needs without requiring hospital admission.
What It Actually Is
This center focuses on cross-sectional imaging: MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for soft-tissue detail and CT (computed tomography) for bone, trauma, and rapid screening. It is not a full-service hospital; it provides imaging only and requires a physician order for most exams. The facility operates as part of Memorial Healthcare System, Chattanooga's largest hospital network, which means imaging results flow directly into the hospital's electronic records if you are a patient elsewhere in the system.
Services and Pricing
MRI scans cost between $800 and $2,500 before insurance, depending on body region and whether contrast dye is needed; brain and spine studies tend toward the higher end. CT scans range from $600 to $1,800, with trauma and contrast-enhanced studies commanding premium rates. These are approximate ranges; your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance plan design, deductible status, and in-network vs. out-of-network negotiation. Most major insurance plans accept the center; confirm your coverage before scheduling. The facility accepts self-pay patients and offers payment plans for uninsured or out-of-pocket patients; ask about sliding scale options at the time of registration.
How It Compares to Other Chattanooga Imaging Options
Chattanooga has several competing imaging centers. Erlanger Imaging Services, operated by the competing Erlanger Health System, offers similar MRI and CT services on the north side of the city and handles more complex trauma imaging because it is hospital-based. Diagnostic Center of Chattanooga, an independent outpatient facility, also offers MRI and CT and often quotes lower cash prices but typically has longer wait times for urgent studies. Memorial Ooltewah Imaging Center's advantage is scheduling speed: as a Memorial system facility, it integrates with the larger referral network and can often schedule routine MRI and CT within 5 to 7 business days, with urgent same-day slots available for trauma or acute symptoms. Choose Memorial Ooltewah if your primary care physician is within Memorial system and you want tight coordination; choose Erlanger if your doctor is Erlanger-affiliated and you need on-site physician interpretation immediately; choose Diagnostic Center if you are uninsured and price is the sole driver.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
This center is designed for patients with a physician order and stable imaging needs: headaches, orthopedic injury, cardiac screening, abdominal pain workup, and routine follow-up scans. It does not offer interventional imaging (biopsies, drain placement) or pediatric-specialized MRI sedation teams. Patients without a referring physician order cannot obtain imaging; a radiologist will not generate a study order on-site. Patients requiring same-day imaging in an emergency should go to the ER (either Memorial or Erlanger) rather than calling the outpatient center. If you need a biopsy or other needle-guided procedure, you will be referred to the hospital's interventional radiology department.
What the First Visit Involves
Call to schedule or ask your physician's office to order. You will be asked to verify insurance and provide a valid photo ID at check-in. If your scan requires contrast dye, you will complete a screening questionnaire to assess kidney function and confirm no iodine allergy. Arrive 15 minutes early. A technologist will place you on the scanner table, explain the noise and procedure, and position you for imaging. MRI scans take 20 to 45 minutes depending on the protocol; CT scans take 5 to 15 minutes. A radiologist (a doctor) reads your images on-site or within hours and sends a formal report to your referring physician within 24 hours. You do not receive films or digital images at the front desk; request them during check-in if you need copies for a second opinion.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The center operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Saturday availability for urgent cases (verify current Saturday hours by phone). Parking is free and plentiful in the facility's lot. The building is accessible by car from Exit 5 off I-75 heading southeast; allow 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. There is no public transportation link; plan to drive. The facility is not adjacent to food service; bring water and snacks if you expect a longer wait.
Memorial Ooltewah Imaging Center serves Chattanooga's southeast corridor efficiently and integrates seamlessly with Memorial's hospital referral patterns, making it the practical choice for Memorial-affiliated patients avoiding downtown imaging waits.
