Despite being universally accepted as the gold standard for functional cardiac imaging, cardiac MRI (CMR) adoption in the U.S. lags significantly behind other countries. In fact, 5x more CMR scans are performed in London than in the U.S. Medicare population per million patients. This slow adoption creates major obstacles—not just for patient care, but also for healthcare organizations that risk falling behind both clinically and financially.
The consequences of delayed CMR adoption are serious. As the lifetime risk of developing heart failure increases to 24%, or 1 in 4 individuals, access to timely and accurate imaging becomes even more critical.
Beyond patient care, delayed CMR adoption brings real financial costs for healthcare providers—here are five ways those costs add up:
Five Ways Delayed CMR Adoption Can Affect Your Organization
1. Weakened Reputation
Offering CMR is a key differentiator in a rapidly evolving cardiology landscape. It enables healthcare organizations to position themselves at the forefront of cardiac care. CMR is the most comprehensive and radiation-free method for assessing the heart’s structure and function, delivering exceptional image quality, soft tissue contrast, and volumetric detail. It also enables precise quantification of conditions such as myocardial ischemia, cardiomyopathy, and valvular disease, which can lead to heart failure.
However, fewer than 2% of U.S. MRI machines are routinely used for CMR. Hospitals that successfully implement CMR programs can establish themselves as leaders in the field. As demand for CMR grows, patients and referring physicians will increasingly expect it as a standard offering. Institutions without a CMR program risk falling behind, while early adopters with the right processes, technology, and talent will be well-positioned to scale as demand rises.
2. Missed Revenue Opportunities
CMR offers strong reimbursement rates and can provide a steady revenue stream for healthcare organizations. For example, current average Medicare payment rates demonstrate the financial potential:
Organizations that fail to establish a strong CMR program risk losing these reimbursement opportunities to competitors. Beyond direct billing, CMR strengthens a hospital’s cardiovascular department by creating referral loops from primary care, oncology, and transplant programs—ultimately driving growth and long-term financial sustainability.
3. Lost Patients and Referrals
CMR is often crucial for patients with unclear diagnoses or inconclusive results from other imaging techniques. For instance, 10–15% of echocardiographic images are considered technically difficult due to challenging body morphology/anatomy, technology limitations, or poor imaging output, leading to uninterpretable studies. In these cases, CMR may be necessary to provide a clearer diagnosis.
Slow CMR adoption can negatively impact patient acquisition and retention in two key ways:
- Patient Leakage: CMR access is often restricted to well-resourced institutions, creating geographical disparities. As a result, patients face long wait times ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months, creating a large and growing backlog. Without timely access to CMR, patients may seek care at competing institutions with faster access and more advanced imaging options.
- Missed Referrals: The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend cardiac MRI for various conditions, including chest pain evaluation and heart failure diagnosis. Healthcare organizations that do not offer CMR as part of their advanced cardiovascular imaging program risk missing these critical referrals, potentially redirecting patient volume—and downstream revenue—to competitors.
4. Wasted Expenditure
Inaccurate or incomplete imaging can lead to misdiagnoses, unnecessary follow-up tests, and redundant procedures—wasting time and resources. CMR, however, reduces these inefficiencies. One study found that CMR led to a new diagnosis in 27% of patients who had previously undergone prior imaging. This helped avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in 11% and prevented additional diagnostic testing in 7%, saving an average of $2,308 per patient.
In real-world cardiology practice, CMR helps identify conditions like cardiomyopathies or ischemia that may have been missed by other imaging tests, reducing patient risk and saving valuable resources. Delays in adopting CMR increase the likelihood of wasted time, unnecessary procedures, and suboptimal patient outcomes.
5. Lost Talent
Recruiting and retaining top cardiologists and radiologists is becoming increasingly competitive. A well-supported CMR program signals institutional investment in innovation, which can tip the scales when attracting and retaining top-tier talent. Conversely, hospitals slow to adopt CMR may struggle to recruit leading specialists who are eager to work with the latest in advanced imaging technologies.
Delaying CMR implementation could also lead to higher turnover rates and difficulty maintaining a highly skilled workforce—directly impacting both operational efficiency and the quality of care.
How to Scale CMR Without Adding Resources
As cardiac imaging demand continues to rise, CMR is becoming essential for healthcare organizations that want to stay competitive, improve patient care, and strengthen financial performance. Healthcare organizations must find ways to scale CMR programs without overextending their resources. Yet many face a common barrier: a shortage of skilled technologists. Even with qualified staff, variability in expertise often leads to inconsistent scan times and suboptimal image quality.
AI-powered solutions like Vista AI help overcome these challenges. Vista AI automates CMR scanning, enabling all technologists to deliver high-quality images quickly and consistently. By streamlining manual processes, Vista AI reduces reliance on highly specialized staff, improves image quality and consistency, shortens scan times, and boosts patient throughput—all without adding MRI machines, hours, or staff.
With AI-driven automation, providers can scale their CMR programs efficiently and meet growing demand, positioning themselves as leaders in advanced cardiac care.
Contact us today to learn how Vista AI can help you start or grow your CMR program.
