utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in patient covered by isfahan health care insurance, iran

introduction: the use of high-cost and high-tech magnetic resonance imaging (mri) has expanded over the past decade. a recently conducted research reported various causes with regard to their own country and healthcare system included aging population and advances in diagnostic technologies which could result in diagnostic services to become more applicable in clinical arena. increasing number of radiologists, access to physicians and these types of services affect its use. this study aimed to determine the level of magnetic resonance imaging service utilization in 2010-2011 for specialties, types of mri and fund coverage. methods: this was an analytical study. information of various mri types, prescribed mri by each specialists and various fund of health insurance was extracted from the isfahan health insurance database through census method during 2010 and 2011 midyears. excel was used to analyze each group. results: over two midyears (2010-2011), total number of prescribed mri increased about 177 mris. neurologists and orthopedic specialists ordered the most scans (843 and 819 scans in 2011 and in 2012, respectively which was related to orthopedic specialists and then to neurologists) and were the most frequent users of ct/mri scans. abdominal scans (n = 1218) in 2010 and lumbar scans (n = 921) in 2011 were the most ordered scans, respectively. the most prescribed mri was related to government employees fund (average number = 1472) and the lowest was related to self-employed insured fund (average number = 17). conclusion: increased number of performed mri is rooted from different causes. increased number of mri centers could cause an upward trend. other effective factors in utilization these services would be time pressure for physical examination, professional uncertainty, patients' expectations to prescribe more drugs and diagnostic services, lack of a proper payment system and inadequate payments to physicians.