MRI Central Intake Program
On this page:
Overview
The Central Intake Program is a new process for requesting non-urgent MRI scans for outpatients.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service providers in the Ottawa Valley and Eastern Ontario are asked to use the Central Intake Program (CIP). This program improves coordination and access to MRI services for outpatient care.
The process for submitting inpatient and emergency MRI referrals has not changed.
How to make an outpatient referral
Doctors within the Atlas Alliance
Doctors working at organizations within the Atlas Alliance who have access to computerized physician order entry (CPOE) should continue to order MRIs using Epic.
Doctors outside the Atlas Alliance
Doctors who are not part of the Atlas Alliance must:
- Use the new regional MRI requisition form, and
- Complete the new MRI screening form.
These forms replace previous hospital-specific forms.
The forms are also available through Telus (PS Suite), OSCAR and Accuro (QHR) electronic medical records.
Please send referrals using the centralized fax number:
613-737-8944
The Ocean eReferral platform allows doctors to create and submit MRI requisitions directly from most community EMRs. If you already use Ocean, select Eastern Ontario MRI Central Intake Program.
Doctors and other clinicians who want to learn more about Ocean eReferral can contact:
Decision support checklists
To support evidence-based practice and improve access to advanced imaging, the region has released:
MRI Referral Decision Support Checklist – Headache in Adults
MRI Referral Decision Support Checklist – Low Back Pain in Adults
These checklists are designed to accompany referrals for MRI in these categories.
After a referral is sent to Central Intake
The CIP reviews all submitted referrals to:
- Check for completeness.
- Identify possible duplicate requests.
The CIP then routes the referral to one of the region’s MRI service providers.
Routing decisions are based on several factors, including:
- The type of MRI exam requested.
- Which MRI sites can provide the required imaging.
- Current wait times.
- The patient’s age.
- Where the patient lives.
- The patient’s preferred language.
- Any additional preferences noted on the referral.
MRI sites will continue to contact patients directly to confirm appointment details.
The selected MRI site completes the exam and sends the report back to the referring doctor.
MRI service providers in the region
The CIP may route referrals to the following hospitals:
- Pembroke Regional Hospital.
- Cornwall Community Hospital.
- Queensway Carleton Hospital.
- Hôpital Montfort.
- The Ottawa Hospital.
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
- Hawkesbury General Hospital.
For patients who wish to receive services in French, Hôpital Montfort and Hawkesbury General Hospital are the only sites that guarantee services in French throughout the hospital.
Patient privacy
At The Ottawa Hospital, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and the confidentiality and security of all personal health information.
Resources
Decision support checklists
MRI Referral Decision Support Checklist – Headache in Adults
MRI Referral Decision Support Checklist – Low Back Pain in Adults