How to make an MRI easy and comfy

Full disclosure — the photo to the left is not of me. It is a stock photo that I downloaded for the internet, and features actors playing medical professionals and a patient. Yesterday, I had an MRI taken of my wrist — might have broken a bone in my hand. No big deal. A few years ago, after a shoulder break, I had a full-body closed MRI and swore I’d never do it again. So I called Streeterville Open MRI and can honestly say I haven’t had a better customer experience since whenever the last time I ordered shoes at Zappos was. Streeterville gets it right — and for you MRI centers out there (and Doctors, even more) — here are some tips. 1.) Minimal Paperwork. Over the phone, they kept telling me that it’d be easy to sign-in and “just get here 5 minutes early.” I think I signed two forms and the entire registration process took about 45 seconds. 2.) Be nice. Nobody wants to get an MRI, and no Doctor or Nurse wants to call an MRI center to precertify a patient to meet health insurance guidelines. The guys at Streeterville are so nice I might just take them lunch. 3.) Make the MRI easy. My last MRI was at a MRI location via DePaul on North Avenue. Totally sucked for several reasons. Streeterville has comfy beds and I actually took a nap throughout the banging and clanking. 4.) No more tubes. An open MRI lets you look at the wall or the boombox or the flowers on the desk for the full 40 minutes. If you don’t think that’s a huge improvement, spend 40 minutes in a closed MRI tube.  5.) Free Parking. Parking is one of the biggest rackets in the city. After your MRI, Streeterville gives you 3 more hours in the big lot for free. So you can get an MRI and work remotely for 3 hours in the Corner Bakery down the street or just walk around. For free. In the open.